Qass^U^D.

BookJEl£L2L

Correspondence of the
Reverend Ezra Fisher

Pioneer Missionary of the American Baptist

Home Mission Society in Indiana,

Illinois, Iowa and Oregon

Edited b\f ^

SARAH FISHER HENDEiSON
NELLIE EDITH LATOURETTE
KENNETH SCOTT LATOURETTE

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EDITORS' PREFACE

The letters here given to the public were written by the
Reverend Ezra Fisher to the American Baptist Home Mis-
sion Society. Their publication was planned by his youngest
daughter, Mrs. Sarah Fisher Henderson. She collected the
letters, had them transcribed, and with the assistance of
Miss Latourette had done part of the editing before her
death. In her will she provided for the completion of the
work. Her executors entrusted this to Miss Latourette and
Mr. Latourette, who have tried to carry it on in as close
accord as possible with her original pi^ns. These included
a life of Mr. Fisher, such occasional changes in the text of
the letters as would make them more clear, and notes of his-
torical explanation. The life is the work of Miss Latour-
ette. The emendation of the text was begun by Mrs. Hen-
derson and Miss Latourette and was completed by the latter.
These emendations seemed to Mrs. Henderson desirable in
view of the conditions under which the letters were com-
posed. They were written under the most adverse surround-
ings of frontier life, amid frequent distractions and without
opportunity for revision. Certain minor rhetorical and
grammatical errors inevitably crept in which the author
would, with his usual care in such matters, have corrected
had he had the opportunity. It is to make these corrections
that the emendations have been designed. They have been
slight, have in no instance altered the meaning, and usually

have been indicated. Omissions, also indicated, have been
made of occasional phrases, sentences and paragraphs. The
historical notes are the work of Mr. Latourette.

The editors w^ish to express their heartiest appreciation
and thanks to those who have helped make this work pos-
sible, especially to the officers of the American Baptist Home
Mission Society for the loan of the original manuscripts ;
to Mr. George H. Himes, of the Oregon Historical Society,
for frequent and ungrudging contributions from his rich
stores of information ; to Mrs. Ann Eliza Fisher Latourette
for her constant interest ; to the executors of Mrs. Hender-
son's will, Mr. L. E. Latourette and Mr. R. W. Fisher; and
to the editors of the Quarterly of the Oregon Historical
Society for their kindness in offering its pages to the initial
publication of the larger part of the letters.

e

THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR

Ezra Fisher was a native of New England. He was a
descendant of Anthony Fisher, who came from Syleham,
County Suffolk, England, in 1637, and settled at Dedham,
Mass. Here at the beginning of the Revolution lived Ezra
Fisher's grandparents, Benjamin and Sara (Everett) Fisher.
Five of their sons answered the call to arms of April 19,
1775. Six of them served later in the war, the eldest dying
of camp fever at Ticonderoga. s^

The youngest, Aaron, was in Captain Asa Fairbank's com-
pany at the Lexington alarm, it is said, when but seventeen
years of age. He afterward served in the regiments of Col.
Ephraim Wheelock, of Col. Carleton and of Col. Rufus Put-
nam, most of the time v^^ith rank of sergeant. During the
war he was married to Miss Betty Moore and, at its close,
they removed from Dedham and settled on a farm near
AVendell, Mass. Here it was that Ezra Fisher was born,
January 6, 1800.

His environment was that of the average New England
boy at the beginning of the last century. In the home of his
parents were few luxuries and much hard work, but there
was a fireside where God was worshipped, the Bible read,
religion and education discussed and a vital interest taken
in the affairs of the State so lately formed. Like other boys
of his day, he was privileged to learn, from the generation
who had desperately struggled for them, how the civil liber-
ties of that State were won. Unlike most bovs of his time,

6 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

he learned from Baptist parents the meaning of religious
liberty. They themselves had been forced to contribute to
the support of the established church and could relate sad
tales of the various persecutions which had harassed their
denomination in New England until at least 1799.

All the early years of his life were spent on his father's
farm. The knowledge of farming there obtained and later
supplemented by reading along that line served him well as
a pioneer, as did also an unusual ability to turn his hand to
many things. To the hard conditions of his life on the farm
he doubtless owed not only the latter talent, but his tireless
industry and his ability to endure hardships. In spite of
health which was never rugged, these qualities were his to
a marked degree.

From the common schools near his home, he gained suffi-
cient education to begin teaching at the age of eighteen. At
the same age he was converted and united with the Baptist
church in Wendell. Out of the religious life which followed
came the conviction chat he ought to preach the gospel, and
with it, the resolution to fit himself thoroughly for the work.

With no other aid than his own, he struggled nearly twelve
years to carry out this purpose. His preparation for college
was received in part from a nearby academy, but progress
was slov/ because of much time necessarily spent in teaching
and in work on the farm. Severe sickness also hindered him.

He was admitted to Amherst College in 1822. That insti-
' tution had opened its doors only the year before for the
purpose of educating "poor and pious young men for the
ministry." Here among many with similar aim to his own,
he found the opportunities he sought. Although a good
student, working his way meant long absences while teach-
ing, and another illness, which was all but fatal, left him
much weakened in health, so that his graduation was de-
layed until 1828, when he took his bachelor's degree with a
class of forty, twenty-three of whom were preparing for the
ministry.

REVEREND EZRA FISHKR. 7

The following year he entered Newton Theological Semi-
nary, where he studied until January, 1830. He then ac-
cepted a call to the pastorate of the Baptist church at Cam-
bridge, Vermont, and was there ordained to the ministry,
January 20, 1830.

On February 7th of the same year he was married to Miss
Lucy Taft, of Clinton, N. Y., but formerly of Wendell, Mass.
Shortly after the wedding they departed in a sleigh for Cam-
bridge, Vt. They had known each other from childhood, and
their marriage was the consummation of an engagement
which began two years before his entrance to college.

In February of the next year he entered upon his second
pastorate at Springfield in the same state. His work of
nearly two years in this place resulted in the conversion and
baptism of about eighty persons. From Springfield Ezra
Fisher wrote, under date of September 22. 1832, the first
letter of his correspondence with the American Baptist
Home Mission Society. That Society had been organized
the preceding April, and while it inch Yied in its scope the
whole of North America, it was religious destitution in the
Mississippi Valley which gave it birth.

Western need of the gospel had appealed strongly to both
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher. In sympathy with the Home Mission
movement from its beginning and feeling that New England
claims upon them were small as compared with those of the
West, they had early decided that, if the Lord should open
the way, they would gladly serve Him "in some destitute
portion of the Great Valley."

Their wish met with the approval of the Home Mission
Society. Dr. Jonathan Going, first Corresponding Secretary
of the Society, on a visit to their church in Springfield, had
encouraged them to go to the Valley the coming fall. Hop-
ing at the time that they might do so, Ezra Fisher wrote
the first letter to inform him that they felt unable to leave
the church in Springfield until the next spring or fall. Late
in October, however, came a letter from Indianapolis, Ind.,

8 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

asking Air. Fisher to come immediately to that place, and
assuring him that the Home Mission Society would furnish
him an outfit and support him there. The Springfield church
having released him, he at once made ready to go.

On the twelfth of November, 1832, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher
bade goodbye to their friends in Springfield and, with their
little daughter, began their first journey westward. Stopping
only for a visit of a few days with Mrs. Fisher's parents in
Clinton, N. Y., they were five weeks on the way, not reach-
ing Indianapolis until the 22d of December. He at once be-
gan work at a salary of three hundred dollars a year, fifty
dollars having been allowed him for outfit. His appointment,
voted by the Board, November 8, 1832, made him one of the
first missionaries of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society.

With his arrival at Indianapolis, his own pen takes up the
account of his life and work and continues it almost uninter-
ruptedly until 1856. It is the story of how he strove to place
the leaven of the Kipgdom of God within the developing life
of the Mississippi Valley, of how he journeyed by ox team
to the Pacific Coast to perform a like service for Oregon,
and of how he did indeed labor in Oregon amid many dis-
couragements to set in motion the forces which make for
effective righteousness. For the most part, only the outlines
of what he "himself has written would be in place here.

While the purpose of his correspondence was primarily to
give the Society an account of his own work and of the Bap-
tist cause where he labored, he does much more than this.
He describes the country, its places, the life and conditions
of every field he occupied, suggests, often with prophet's
vision, bases for future operations, gives a comprehensive
view of American expansion westward and at least touches
upon nearly every event of importance connected with the
earlier history of the Pacific Coast.

The church in Indianapolis was a chaotic one of fifty-five
members. Thev had no articles of faith and their beliefs

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 9

were almost as varied as the places from which they had
come. Most were opposed to the support of the ministry.
They had no Sunday school and many did not believe in the
institution.

In their association of fifteen or sixteen churches, he knew
of no church which had preaching more than one Sabbath a
month and there were but two ministers who devoted much
time to their calling. Probably the majority of Baptists
throughout the state had little or no sympathy with the
benevolent societies of the denomination..

His efforts were chiefly confined to his own church. He
preached, however, when possible, in neighboring places and
visited sufficiently among the churches of the state to keep
informed of their needs. He assisted in the organization of
the General Association of Baptists in Indiana in 1833, and
of a state Baptist Education Society in 1835.

At the close of his pastorate in Indianapolis, March 22,
1835, many discouraging conditions remained, but the church
was in harmony, had a Sunday school of ninety or more
members, and would, he believed, furnish half the salary
of a minister the next year.

Ezra Fisher continued to make his home in Indianapolis
until April 12, 1836, the last year acting as agent of the
American Sunday School Union for Indiana. Because of a
wish to work directly for the Baptist denomination, he de-
clined the invitation to serve another year. and. because his
health would not admit of the sedentary life, he also refused
a position as the head of Franklin College, soon to go into
operation at Franklin, Indiana.

Under commission of the Home Mission Society, he again
went west, this time to Quincy, 111., to take charge of a
church of nine members, worshipping in a small school room.
He arrived there May 4, 1836. For the first year only his
time was divided between the church at Quincy and one
called Bethany at Payson. ten miles southeast.

Supported but in part by the Society, during most of his

10 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Slay of three and a half years, he was able to live, to use
his own words, "only by uniting industry and economy with
sell-denial." When the brave little church at Quincy was
building, he cheerfully taught school to make up the deficit
in his salary, and, at the end of that year, wrote: "This
church is truly becoming one of the most pleasant churches
in the land and will soon become one of the most desirable
situations for an efficient preacher in the whole West. . .
When God in His providence shall indicate to me that this
place demands another than a frontier man, if my health and
that of my family permit, I hope once more to take a fron-
tier post." The church had forty members at the time he
left it.

He had hoped to go to Texas in the fall of 1839, but,
disappointed in this, he went at that time to Iowa Territory.
So far as is known, there is no record of why he did not go
to Texas or of his first year's work in Iowa, save that he
preached for a time at Bloomington. now Aluscatine. and
also at Wapsipinikie, now Independence. In serving these
places, it is likely that he devoted considerable time to ex-
ploring and endeavoring to relieve the general field.

In 1841, when he again takes pen to report his movements
since November, 1840, we find him the only Baptist minister
in a region "from twenty to fifty miles in width, extending
from tlie mouth of the Iowa river up the Mississippi to the
mouth of the Macoquetois (Moquoketa) and thence up that
stream some ten miles above its forks." His station was
Davenport.

In endeavoring to relieve the destitution, he travelled dur-
ing the quarter ending December 10, 1841, seven hundred
and fifty miles. Through all that part of Iowa Territory and
across the river at Rock Island, 111., and neighboring points,
his was a familiar figure for more than five years. He
preached the gospel, made religious visits to hundreds of
homes, took a leading part in organizing the Baptist work
in the territory and in organizing temperance societies, gave

REVEREND EZRA FI5KEE,

maajr addresses cm the snbfects of tesnjierance and ot Snndas.y
schools and secared ntuneroits sigaatares lo zht temperance
pledge.

The larger part of bia time was given zo -he churches :a
Davenport and in Moscatsne, Ac latter chtirch having oeew
organized by him October 31, 1841, It wra* while living in
Muscatine in 1843 that he {banned to go tr> Oregon die ic4-
lowing year.

Feeling that the opportunity of visiting relatives aad
friends would not again be tbetzi^ Mr, and Mrs, Fisher, with
their three children, spent the summer asid fedl oi^ 1843 in the
Ea^t. It was their first trq> back since ooim^ to the Mis-
sissippi Valley nearly devoi years before. At die ead of
the long journey from Iowa, dteir little dasg^tter asnoonced
their arrival at the home of her gnadparcats in Xew York
by exclaiming, "O gnatdpat^ weVe come to stay all nig^"
Their youngest dzngbter^ ^z- '■-— 4ttiiag the visit there.

Leaving Xew York i:^ iH they reacfaea Daven-

port, la., December 15, 'r vme all the way by team.

Under appointment of tii^
expecting to go to GN^egon :
began preaching to xarvrt*
port, travellii-g idiat qn ^
miies.

Unfavorable reports
reached him. Some of the
Israelitish spies of Can^-
anticipating the OregDr.

The uncertainty of ge
and the unsettled cood:
reasons, led Ezra Fidie-
1845. He was tfaereHoT'
in., and Mt. Pleasaat,
!^ !«^5. at the close c:

Mission Society, and stiE

- :S44, Ezra Fisher

r?ach of Daven-

twenty-eigjit

"Stf

soon
t the

- ,'

- - i

'. ~

tast.

•Jn March

. :

O :--

I Jlfterwatds Mes. Sor-.

12 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Home Mission Society, he received his commission to labor
in Oregon.

Early in April, Ezra Fisher and his family set out from
Rock Island, 111., on their journey of more than twenty-five
hundred miles to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Going into
rendezvous at St. Joseph, Mo., they left that place the middle
of May. To their joy they soon afterward overtook, or were
overtaken by Rev. Hezekiah Johnson and family from Iowa,
whom they had expected to accompany them, but had given
up. The two men had been closely associated in organizing
the Baptist work in Iowa. x\t the solicitation of both, Heze-
kiah Johnson had also been appointed by the Home Mission
Society a missionary to Oregon. A salary of three hundred
dollars^ for one year from the time of their arrival in Oregon
had been advanced to each of them.

Like the rest of their company, the two missionaries and
their families experienced none of the extreme sufferings
which fell to the lot of many who travelled the Oregon Trail,
and of some who that year departed from it. So far as known,
the worst Indian depredation in the family of Ezra Fisher
was the cutting off of the brass buttons on his son's round-
about. But there were trials in abundance and their share
of the very real suffering and danger which were a part of
crossing the plains to Oregon.

One of their trials was the disregard of the Sabbath, which
they not only felt to be wrong, but which prevented their
accomplishing as much in a religious way as they had hoped.
Except in a genuine emergency, such as lack of water, or of
feed for the cattle, on the Sundays when their company in-
sisted upon travelling, the missionaries would tarry behind,
have family devotions, rest and overtake the main company
late in the evening.

About half of the Sabbaths were observed at least by
halting. On these occasions, one of the three ministers of

1 See letter of March 22, 1845.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 13

the company would preach, a wagon usually serving as a
pulpit.

At The Dalles Ezra Fisher preached his first sei"mon in
Oregon from John 3:16. Here the missionaries camped and
built a flatboat. They were out of provisions and obliged
to pay eight dollars per hundred pounds for flour and six
dollars for beef. Dried salmon, bought of the Indians, was
generally a substitute for the latter.

Some of the party, Ezra Fisher among them, brought the
cattle and horses down the Indian trail on the north bank of
the Columbia. On the flatboa't, laden with their wagons and
other possessions, including a skiff for use in catching their
flatboat below the rapids, the rest of their number embarked,
and thus came to the portage at the Cascades, where they
camped in a drenching rain.

Their boat, which was set adrift to go over the Cascades,
lodged in the rocks amid-stream and all efforts to dislodge
it were in vain. In their extremit}^ they sent to Dr. Mc-
Loughlin for aid. With his usual kindness, he sent them
a bateau.

At the Cascades, or, it would seem more likely, at a later
camping point, those who had come down the north bank
joined them. They were wet and in a nearly famished con-
dition. Ezra Fisher and his son^ had been living for the last
day or two on a daily half-pint of milk, and a little wheat
which they had in 'their pockets. Hot biscuits^ were a never-
to-be-forgotten luxury of their repast that night.

Continuing their journey in the bateau, the party arrived
at a point near Linnton on or near the sixth of December.
Here the two families separated, Hezekiah Johnson and fam-
ily continuing up the river to Oregon City, while Ezra Fisher
and family, piloted by Edward Lenox, went to Tualatin
Plains.

1 Ezra Timothy Taft Fisher.

2 Throughout the journey, the family baking had been done with the aid of a
tin reflector, which stood on four legs, was bent so as to form a hood and enclosed
at the sides. From the front, baking pans were slid into place along grooves.

14 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

In the log cabin of David T. Lenox, well known as cap-
tain of the first company to reach Oregon in 1843, they
found shelter from the rain and cold. It was the same cabin
in which had been organized, on May 25, 1844, the first
Baptist church west of the Rocky Mountains. It was about
eighteen by twenty-two feet, and had a "lean-to." Although
the family of David Lenox numbered thirteen and the "lean-
to" was occupied by a widow and three children, with the
utmost hospitality the six new arrivals were made welcome.
Togther the three families spent the remainder of the winter,
all making the best of their cramped quarters.

Each morning the bed, which had been spread out on the
puncheon floor, would be rolled up in the bufifalo robes which
had seen duty on the Plains. They did their cooking over
the stick fireplace. This was simplified because of a lack
of materials with which to cook. They were without flour,
milk, butter or eggs, and their only meat was the game
which they were able to kill. Boiled wheat, occasionally
served with molasses, potatoes and dried-pea cofifee, were
their chief dependence. They had, besides, dried peas and
turnips.

In the evening they would gather around the fireplace,
seated, for the most part, on benches or blocks of wood and,
by the light of a pitchy knot, Ezra Fisher would read the
words for the children to spell. On Sunday evenings he.
would conduct a Bible class.

Upon their arrival at the home of David Lenox, Mr. and
Mrs. Fisher and their eldest daughter had at once united with
the little church which had been organized the preceding
year and of which Rev. Vincent Snelling, of the immigration
of '44, was pastor. This was at West Union, six miles north-
east of what is now Hillsboro. During the winter Ezra
Fisher provided for his family, travelled up and down
the Valley, going nearly as far south as the Luckiamute
River, acquainted himself with conditions and needs, and
preached every Sunday but three.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 15

In the spring, when David Lenox moved his family into
a new log cabin, Ezra Fisher rented the old one and condi-
tions became more comfortable for all. The following sum-
mer he taught a term of school, kept up his preaching each
Sabbath, superintended a Sunday school of twenty-five
pupils, and, when Rev. Vincent Snelling moved to what is
now Yamhill County, became pastor of the West Union
Church. During the few months of his pastorate there were
ten or twelve conversions.

Believing that near the mouth of the Columbia lay the
point which would become of first commercial importance for
Oregon, and that no other place except Oregon City was of
more immediate consequence, he moved to Astoria in the fall
of '46. That part of Oregon had then its share of settlers,
at least one other denomination was beginning an eft'ort
there and the outlook for steady growth was most encourag-
ing.

Throughout the winter he preached every Sunday but, with
only two American families in Astoria besides themselves,
his field of usefulness was limited. Most of his time for two
months was occupied in building the house wdiich for man>
years served as Astoria's postoffice and which has often been
pictured as a landmark of the place. It was made of shakes,
split with a frow, and was built entirely from one big tree,
a portion of which remained unused.

Their privations and discouragements that year were great.
They had received neither word nor remittance from the
Home Mission Society since leaving Rock Island, 111. They
had no mail and very little reading matter. Their first home
was a log cabin which had been abandoned some time before.
It had been made habitable no doubt by some repairs, but it
had no windows and in it were few indeed of the commonest
comforts of life. They were wearing old clothes which had
served their day in Illinois and of food had small variety, al-
though better supplied than the year before. The winter was
severe and he lost all but two of his twenty cattle. More

16 CORRESPONDEN'CE OF THE

than all his privations, he regretted that he could be of so
little use as a minister of the gospel and must spend so large
a part of his time in providing the necessities of life. "If
I have one object for which I desire to live more than all
others," he wrote, "it is to see the cause for which Christ im-
poverished Himself making the people of Oregon rich."

In anticipation of the needs of California and of Puget
Sound his first letter from Astoria had this : "Should the
settlement of the Oregon question be what we anticipate, we
shall greatly need a missionary stationed at Puget Sound
before yoy can commission a suitable man and send him to
the field. And should Upper California remain under the
United States government, a missionary will be greatly need-
ed at San Francisco Bay immediately upon the settlement
of the Mexican War. . . This whole country and Upper
California are emphatically missionary grounds, and our re-
lation to the whole Pacific Coast and the half of the globe in
our front demands prompt and faithful action. . . What-
ever God has in store for our majestic River and our spacious
and safe harbors on the Pacific, one thing is now reduced to a
demonstration : We must become a part of the Great North
American Republic. It remains for the Christian churches of
that Republic to say whether our territory shall prove a
blessing or a sore curse to the nation. Shall the needed help
be denied us?" His plea for San Francisco and Puget Sound
was often repeated.

In the spring, because they could the better earn their liv-
ing and, at the same time, be as useful as at Astoria, they
moved to Clatsop Plains. ^

In connection with the Presbyterians, they at once organ-
ized a Sunday school in the log school house where their
eldest daughter^ taught during the week.

This at first numbered twenty-five and soon grew to thirty.
Following Sunday school each week, either Rev. Lewis

1 See letter of Jan. 26. 1850.

2 Miss Lucy J. G. Fisher (Latourette).

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 17

Thompson, the Presbyterian minister, or Elder Fisher would
preach, the two men acting alternately and their congrega-
tions numbering about fifty.

In June, mail from the East began to reach the Baptist
missionary. It was the first since leaving St. Joseph, Mo.,
more than two years before. In August, two boxes from the
Home Mission Society arrived. At the age of seventy-six,
the only living member^ of the family remembers with what
delight these, and a box from her grandparents, which arrived
at the same time, were received.

The goods from the Home Mission Society -had been
ordered from Tualatin Plains, April 17, 1846, and were sent
in response to the wish of Ezra Fisher that a large proportion
of his salary each year should be spent on supplies purchased
in New York at the lower New York prices and forwarded
by ship to Oregon. This method of remittance was satisfac-
tory to both and became their practice. The salary oi the
two missionaries would appear to have been less than two
hundred dollars each, as they received word in 1847 that it
had been increased to that amount. They sometimes re-
ceived donations from eastern churches and societies. These,
.however, were usually books and periodicals for general dis-
tribution.

Removing four miles farther south on Clatsop Plains, near
what is now Gearhart, Ezra Fisher kept up his appointments
at the former place and began preaching on the alternate
Sundays in his own home, a log cabin built by himself. In
the fall, he made a four-weeks' tour of the Willamette Valley,
taking with him a supply of Bibles, Testaments and tracts
which had been received with the goods from New York.

The third winter in Oregon was passed more pleasantly
than the two which had preceded it. But life on Clatsop
Plains in 1847 and 1848 was hardly modern. Around them,
far more numerous than the white settlers, were the Clatsop

3 Mrs. Ann E. Latourette.

18 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Indians, and Chinook Jargon was in daily use. Ezra Fisher's
cabin was Hghted by a primitive lamp without a chimney
and burned oil obtained by the Indians from a whale which
had been cast ashore. The lamp was a luxury of his own
family, most of their neighbors using a saucer or small bowl
of oil or lard in which a twisted rag served for a wick. His
home was swept by a hazel broom which he himself had
made. Indian baskets were common receptacles and, except
for wild cranberries raked from numerous bogs, the family
fruit supply was the berries gathered in the summer and
dried. Mrs. Fisher had a few cherished dried currants, which
on rare occasions she would add to a pudding or cake. The
only apples or oranges the children had seen in Oregon were
a few presented to them by a sea captain at Astoria.

In the Spring of 1848, Ezra Fisher helped to build a log
house to serve for school and church purposes, and on March
18, 1848, organized the Clatsop Plains Baptist Church. At
this time he was the only minister in the county, its popula-
tion w^as gradually increasing and at his two stations were
two Sunday schools with forty-two scholars, ten teachers
and one hundred and twenty librar}^ books.

In June, he made another trip to the Valley, this time to
aid in the organization of the first Baptist association in Ore-
gon, and to awaken an interest in starting a denominational
school. At West Union, the Willamette Baptist Association
was organized, June 23, 1848, Elder Fisher being elected
moderator and David Lenox clerk. Thereafter, throughout
his life, Ezra Fis'her was greatly interested in all the work
of this Association, was its moderator many times, preached
to it and served it in numberless ways. In connection with
it was a Ministers' Conference which he helped to organize
and of which he was repeatedly elected moderator. He later
assisted in the organization of the Corvallis Association, and
of the General Association, in both of which he took an
active part.

At the close of the West Union Meeting, he made an ex-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER.

19

tended tour of the Valley, preaching and looking over the
field with the thought of a suitable location for a school con-
stantly before him. He travelled on foot sixty-five miles
above Oregon City, crossed the Willamette near Salem and
visited the Yamhill church, returned through the Chehalem
and Tualatin valleys and arrived at Oregon City on the
twentieth of July. Leaving Oregon City on the twenty-
fourth, he reached home the twenty-eighth.

About this time came the Caiifornia gold excitement.
In the spring of 1849, none of his church on Clatsop Plains
was left but members of his own family. Amid the general
confusion and excitement there was little hope of accomplish-
ing much in Oregon, and he lacked the means to devote him-
self to missionary effort in California. The loss of his sup-
plies from New York for that year in the wreck of the bark
Undine off Cape Horn and the absolute necessity of devising
some method by which to provide for the needs of his family
induced him to go to the mines. This he did, hoping, at the
same time, that he might be of more service by going than
by remaining at home.

In San Francisco he met and preached for Rev. O. D
Wheeler, whom the American Baptist Home Mission Society
had sent to California in 1848. He was in the mines about
eight weeks and took out about one thousand dollars' worth
of gold, most of which, upon his return, went toward the
purchase of a claim to furnish a site for a Baptist college.
If any one should think him mercenary, let him read his let-
ters of '49 and that of Jan. 20, 1853.

Arriving home on August 23, he set out on the twenty-
ninth for the Willamette Valley. At the call of several rep-
resentative Baptists of the Valley, a meeting was held at
Oregon City, Sept. 21, 1849, to consider the question of estab-
lishing "a permanent school und'er the direction and fostering
care of the Baptist churches in Oregon," and on the follow-
ing day was organized the Oregon Baptist Education So-

20 CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE

ciety.^ The attendance being small, it was voted to adjourn
and meet with the church in Yamhill County on Sept. 27.

At the Yamhill gathering, every church except one, that
of Molalla, was represented. A site for the institution was
agreed upon, a Board of Trustees appointed, and to Rev.
Richard Cheadle was assigned the task of raising two thou-
sand dollars for the building and other expenses. Ezra Fisher
was placed in charge of the institution and was requested to
move to the place as soon as practicable and put a school in
operation. The chosen location was on the "east bank of
the Willamette about eight miles above the mouth of the
Calapooia river."

Upon his arrival with his family at Oregon City late in
November, Ezra Fisher learned that the intended site was
not vacant. While awaiting developments, he opened a school
in the little meeting house^ which Hezekiah Johnson had
built in Oregon City the year before, and where his niece,
Miss Mary Johnson,^ had taught for a few months imme-
diately after its completion.

It was finally thought best to locate the college in Oregon
City, the opportunity of purchasing a claim adjoining the
townsite of Oregon City, the success of Ezra Fisher's school,
and the desirability of Oregon City as a place of location,
doubtless being the chief reasons which led to this decision.
The claim was purchased for five thousand dollars by Heze-
kiah Johnson, Joseph Jefifers and Ezra Fisher, the latter giv-
ing twelve hundred and fifty dollars, most of it being what
he had dug from the California gold mines. About fifty acres,
half a mile back from the town, and so located as to command
an unsurpassed view of the Willamette River and Cascade
Mountains, when once it should be cleared of timl:)er, were
donated for college purposes. To obtain title from the gov-
ernment Ezra Fisher moved to the claim on November 30th,

1 See letter of Feb. 8, 1850.

2 It was the first Baptist church building west of the Rocky Mountains.

3 Afterward Mrs. Henry V. Clymer.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 21

1850. There he built a home and Hved until November, 1855.
He made final proof for patent in January, the same year.
Pursuant to agreement made at the time of purchase, he
then deeded to James R. Robb and George H. Atkinson, suc-
cessors respectively of Hezekiah Johnson and Joseph Jeffers,
certain portions of the claim. For the Oregon City College
he held in trust fifty-one acres which, in 1864, he deeded to
the Trustees of Oregon City University.^

In November, 1851, the Home Mission Society appointed
him Exploring Agent for Oregon, this action meeting with
the hearty endorsement of the Willamette Association. In
this capacity he labored until 1856. As Exploring Agent, he
travelled on foot up and down the Willamette Valley many
times, visiting also the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. He
visited and preached to the churches, assisted in the organiza-
tion of others, held meetings, kept before the denomination
higher standards of efficiency and was everywhere an influ-
ence for good. His was in very truth "the voice of one cry-
ing in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
His paths straight."

Of his work during the time he made his home in Oregon
City, he has given a fuller account than of any other period
of his life. Let us leave to him the details of both it and of
the Oregon City College.

On Jan. 20, 1854, at her home near the site for the Oregon
City College, yirs. Fisher died at the age of forty-eight years.
Her illness was short and her family unprepared for so great
a calamity. She left five children. The oldest- was married ;
the four at home were aged respectively nineteen, fourteen,
ten and six. She had lost two daughters : one at Ouincy, 111.,
in 1838; the other at Muscatine, la., in 1842.

Mrs. Fisher had been a missionary's wife for twenty-two
years. She had the same missionary spirit as her husband

1 In Jan., 1856, the school obtained a charter under the name of the Oregon City
University. The fifty-one acres were afterwards sold for the benefit of McMinnville
College.

2 Mrs. L. D. C. Latourette.

22 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

and was constantly encouraging him in his work. With
sweetness and fortitude she bore every privation. If her own
heart was ever dismayed, her family seldom knew it and she
took fresh courage from her beautiful faith in God and the
blessedness of their work. Her children have often said that
they never heard an unkind word from her lips.

She knew how to make the most of everything. On scraps
that many would have thrown away she could get up an at-
tractive meal. If her home was sometimes a rough log cabin,
it was a clean one and a most pleasant place to be.

Her death was the beginning of a revival, in which about
twenty-five were converted, most of them uniting with the
Baptist church in Oregon City. Among the number were
three of her own children and three from the family of Heze-
kiah Johnson.

Old pioneers of Oregon who knew Ezra Fisher well have
said that he was a pleasant man to meet and converse with.
In manner, he was quiet, kindly and dignified. In appear-
ance, he was six feet in height and thin. His complexion
was fair, his eyes blue, his hair light brown and abundant.
His health, never the best, made him appear somewhat deli-
cate, but he was muscular and had great endurance. In later
years his beard was nearly gray, while his hair was but
slightly so. He was careful of his appearance and, according
to the almost universal custom of New England ministers,
wore a stove-pipe hat. For the first eight years after com-
ing to Oregon, his trips about the Valley were made on foot
and he always carried the usual carpet bag of those days.

When he preached he was earnest, convincing and scholar-
ly. He could preach a doctrinal sermon, but seldom did. No
pioneer minister of Oregon could be more depended upon to
hold up the Christ than Elder Fisher. He disliked either
levity or sensationalism in a minister. In delivery he was
pleasing; he used simple language and was sometimes elo-
quent. He generally used a skeleton. Those which have
been preserved, show that his ideas were surprisingly mod-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 23

ern. He often used the expression, "one more observation."
If young people ever objected to this, they liked his pleasant
smile after the sermon was over and he was very successful
in his work with them.

At the close of the Willamette Association of 1852, over
which he had presided and to attend which he had walked
from Oregon City to Parrish Gap, about twelve miles above
Salem, he placed his hand on a boy's head and said : "I
could walk this country all over for my Master, if I could
only be successful in winning souls to Christ." He then
appealed to the boy^ to become a Christian. It was one of
many similar appeals. "He was always sowing good seed,"
said one who knew him well.

Of what he was in his home life his daughter- has thus
spoken : "My father was very kind and thoughtful of moth-
er and the children, never omitting when starting on his
frequent journeys to kiss us in his kindly way, and we were
always glad to welcome his home-coming. He usually
brought some start of fruit tree or flower to add to our
home comfort." Wherever he lived, he soon had trees, small
fruits and flovv'ers growing. He gave them excellent care
and was skillful in pruning, grafting and budding.

In 1853 he bought a white pony called Dolly. Thereafter
in speaking of his trips Dolly was always included. "Dolly
and I" found traveling bad today, or "Dolly and I" met with
an accident, he would say. Dolly was the "carriage" of a
news item which appeared in an eastern paper and read :

"Rev. Ezra Fisher, of Oregon, while on his way to one of
his appointments, was thrown from his carriage and one of
his ribs was broken."

On June 27, 1854, Ezra Fisher was married to Mrs. Amelia
Millard. She was a woman of Christian character, whose

1 Andrew T. Hunsaker, who was afterward General Missionary of the Baptist
Convention of the North Pacific Coast, financial agent for the McMinnville College
and who is a man so well known and esteemed throughout the state as to need no
further mention.

2 Mrs. Ann E. Latourette.

24 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

coming into the home was a blessing to her husband and to
his children. Such a woman as she was much needed there.
By' her kindness and tactful counsel she won the hearts of
her husband's children and grandchildren, and she lived to
see some of his great-grandchildren and to be loved by them.
The remembrance of her kindly face and loving deeds during
frequent visits to their homes is one of their pleasant child- ,
hood memories. She survived her husband many years and
was much beloved by all who knew her. She died at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. James Elkins, in Albany, Ore-
gon, at the age of ninety-seven years. To the end, she took
an intelligent interest in everything, but especially in the
work of her church and of the Woman's Christian Temper-
ance Union.

Ezra Fisher entered upon his last year as Exploring Agent,
April 1, 1855, with the request that the Board of the Home
Mission Society should be on the look-out for a suitable man
to take his place, and at its close resigned. His work and
the hard conditions attending it had told on his strength and
he felt the necessity of a less arduous life. Wishing to settle
near the center of the Valley within easier reach of the
churches most needing ministerial aid, he accepted the pas-
torate of the Santiam church, located at what is now Soda-
ville, Oregon. The removal from Oregon City was made in
December, 1855, ox teams being provided by members of the
Santiam church. They were six days on the road, having
stopped over Sunday at Parrish Gap.

The Santiam church numbered at that time about thirty-
six members. In a revival conducted by Ezra Fisher and
Rev. William Sperry in 1853, there had been fifty additions
to the church, but half the membership were dismissed to
form what is now the Brownsville church.

In 1856 the Willamette Association met with the Santiam
church. The log school house being of insufficient size, the
gathering was held in a new barn fitted up for the occasion.
Heretofore the Willamette had been the only Baptist Asso-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 25

ciation in the state. That year it was divided into three, the
Santiam church, because of its location, going into the Cor-
vallis Association.

Ezra Fisher was a strong anti-slavery man. As time went
on he found himself in a church and association whose mem-
bers were largely from southern states. For the sake of har-
mony, his policy at first was to say little. But as the slavery
question grew larger and Oregon was threatened with admis-
sion as a slave state, he felt that it was no time for silence.
In public and privately he exerted his influence to the ut-
most against slavery. When the adoption of a Constitution
was before the people, his fight was a valiant one. A well-
educated man from Kentucky said that he had met no one
since leaving the East who reminded him so much of Henry
Clay, and added, "He is as earnest and logical as Henry Clay
himself." Few awaited the returns of Nov. 9, 1857, with
more anxiety of mind than Ezra Fisher^, and none was made
more glad by Oregon's decision.

The pastorate of the Santiam church continued until 1858,
when Ezra Fisher and the other anti-slavery members of the
church withdrew and formed a church of their own near
Washington Butte. They adopted the usual Baptist articles
of faith, but declared also non-fellowship with those who in
any way countenanced slavery.

While with the Santiam church, Ezra Fisher had a farm of
about twenty-five acres, from which most of his livelihood
was gained. Upon moving to Washington Butte, he sold or
traded it for another farm of about the same size. In the
summer of 1861, he sold this and, putting most of the money
into live stock, moved to The Dalles.

Four miles from The Dalles, he bought a small place hav-
ing for improvements little else than a poorly built log cabin
and from which its former owner had not been able to raise
enough to "feed the squirrels." Here, with his wife and

1 As a good rule for the guidance of American citizens, he was fond of quoting
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." j,

m

26 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

thirteen-year-old son, he spent the record-breaking winter of
1861-1862. With plenty of wood, it was all they could do to
keep from freezing. With the opening of spring, only a few
of their stock, which had been let out for the winter, re-
mained. He was almost penniless and obliged to receive
help from a daughter to buy food supplies.

He was sixty-two and Mrs. Fisher sixty, but they at once
set themselves to the task of developing and making a living
from their place. They set out strawberries and planted
vegetables and fruit trees. After a few years, they were able
to make a comfortable living.

While he was doing this, he did not forget to preach.
There being no Baptist church, he frequently preached for
other denominations. The one Baptist family in The Dalles
at the time they came soon moved away. Two leading men
from the church at Washington Butte moved with their
families to The Dalles, and others began to come, so that
about 1863 Ezra Fisher began to preach on Sundays to the
few Baptists of the place, their meetings being held in tlie
court house.

Later a church of sixteen members was organized. Ezra
Fisher generally preached to them on Sundays, but being
unable to give much time to the work, he would not permit
himself to be considered as a pastor or to receive pay. At
this time he was often working fifteen or sixteen hours a day.
Rising about three or four o'clock to get his products oflf on
an early boat down the river, he would then work the re-
mainder of the day on his place. His sermons would be pre-
pared on Sunday morning after breakfast and he would then
travel, often on foot, four miles to town to preach. In 1870,
a letter from The Dalles church to the Willamette Associa-
tion reported : "We have been holding meetings every Sun-
day for some time ; generally have preaching by our beloved
Elder Ezra Fisher." He thus served the church until 1872.

By his untiring labors, and those of his wife and son, their
barren land was transformed into one of the pleasantest

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 27

homes in the vicinity of The Dalles, and was a favorite visit-
ing place of their many friends. They had built a good
frame house, and the fruit from his orchard was known
throughout the county. Indeed, he was one of the first to
prove the superiority of The Dalles cherries.

The strenuous work on his farm became harder for him
each year. It paid him well, but he was continually going
beyond his strength. He therefore sold his place and moved
to California.

The climate was favorable to the health of both, but, after
a year spent near San Diego, the church at The Dalles, which
was then able to pay a small salary, gave him a most urgent
call. Feeling that it would be a joy to be once more of ser-
vice in preaching the gospel, especially to his loved people
of The Dalles, and wishing also to be near his children, he
returned to Oregon.

He arrived in time to attend the twenty-fifth anniversary
of the Willamette Association. He gave a memorial address,
preached to them on the Relation of the Doctrine of the
Resurrection to the Scheme of Salvation, and was the only
one present who had helped in the work of organization a
quarter of a century before.

At the time of his return in 1873, the church at The Dalles
had twenty-three members. They were still without a build-
ing, but had two lots which Ezra Fisher and one or two
others had purchased about 1868. As actively as in his
younger days, their pastor took up the labors before him.
Besides working toward a church building, he preached two
well-prepared sermons each Sunday, taught the Bible class
in the Sunday school and did much pastoral visiting. He
was also elected County School Superintendent.

Upon returning to Oregon, he had earnestly prayed that
God might once more bless his efforts in the conversion of
souls. During the winter he held revival meetings in which
he labored for six weeks. Sixteen of the young people of
the town were added to the church. Among the number

28 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

were his youngest son,^ Rev. C. M. Hill, present head of the
Baptist Theological Seminary at Berkeley, Cal., and Rev. G.
W. Hill, a Baptist missionary in China.

The next summer he came to the Valley to visit and to at-
tend the Baptist State Convention and the Willamette Asso-
ciation, in both of which he took an active part. To the
latter, which met at Forest Grove, he extended an invitation
in behalf of his church to meet at The Dalles the following
year, expecting that their $3,000 church would then be ready
for dedication. The minutes of that year record: "Elder
Fisher preached at the Baptist church to a full house. The
venerable servant of God seemed to renew his youth, while
he held forth Jesus as the Great High Priest of our profes-
sion, and urged all to come to Him and live."

On September 9, 1874, he conducted the exercises at the
laying of the corner stone of the First Baptist church ot The
Dalles, Rev. D. J. Pierce, of Portland, giving the address of
the occasion.

Elder Fisher preached his last sermon on October 18, 1874.
While away on a forty-mile trip visiting the schools of
Wasco county, he contracted a cold, which resulted in ty-
phoid pneumonia. He was brought home to The Dalles, and
there died November 1, 1874. He would have been seventy-
five in January. His will provided that, at the death of Mrs.
Fisher, one-third of whatever remained of his estate, which
was small, should go to McMinnville College.

From those who knew him in the East, among the number
two of his classmates at Amherst, from men and women who
had lived near him in the Middle West, from California ac-
quaintances and from the pioneers of Oregon has come the
testimony of what he was. It has been unanimous that his
was a character of the highest type.

The Society in whose employ he labored so indefatigably
for nearly twenty-five years has placed the name of Ezra

1 Francis VVayland Howard Fisher.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 29

Fisher high on the roll of its missionary heroes. Many
words of praise from men who have guided its afifairs might
here be quoted. But from a most unexpected source came
a simple testimony from one who crossed the plains with
him, and, since no better test of character could well be im-
agined than the trials and vexations which attended the jour-
ney by ox teams to Oregon, it is here given. It came from
Andrew Rodgers, who fell with the Whitmans at Waiilatpu.
In a letter to Mrs. Whitman's sister, Miss Jane Prentiss,
written from Tshimakain and dated April 22, 1846, he wrote :

"There were three ministers in the company, one a Seceder
minister (Dr. T. J. Kendall) from about Burlington. The
other two were Baptist ministers, one from Iowa, the other
from Rock Island, III., whose name was Fisher, and who was
formerly of Ouincy, and is doubtless well known there. He
manifested more of the true spirit of Christ while on the
road than any other man with whom I was acquainted."

None but God knows how the influence of Ezra Fisher
lives on in the lives of many. He was an apostle of Jesus
Christ sent to the frontiers of this country to have a part in
shaping the destinies of the West.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 31

CORRESPONDENCE.

Springfield, Sept. 22, 1832.
Rev. and Dear Sir:

I take pen and paper to inform you relative to our pros-
pects so far as they are connected with the Valley Mission.'
The result of our protracted meeting was rather favourable,
some few conversions and others serious. The brethren to
whom we have disclosed our designs, at first were so affected
that they knew not what to say, or how to act, but have
since become somewhat reconciled ; yet they think they can-
not relinquish us until the opening of the spring or next
Sept. But how the Society may feel relative to our support
when they learn our designs we cannot say. We are rather
inclined to think that duty requires us to remain in this
vicinity till spring; and if it should be your pleasure to as-
sign us our field of labour in Illinois or Indiana, which we
think we should prefer, if Providence opens the door, we
should wish to remain till next Sept. Were we to consult
our own desires, we should rejoice to be ready to give tiie
parting hand to our dearest friends in Springfield this mo-
ment. It is our daily prayer that the Lord open an effectual
door by which we may publish the gospel to some destitute
portion of the Great Valley as soon as it may be pleasing
to Him.

If not deceived, we both sincerely desire the work and
would gladly make all necessary sacrifice. We think we

1 In 1817 the General Convention of Baptists for Foreign Missions sent two
missionaries into the Mississippi Valley, the first work of the organized Baptist de-
nomination in that region. In 1830, the support of these missionaries was discon-
tined by the Convention. The work was partly kept up by the Massachusetts Bap-
tist Missionary Society. In 1832, the Baptist Home Mission Society was organized,
and early in its existence sent missionaries into the Mississippi Valley. — Baptist
Home Missions in North America, 1832-1882. New York, 1883, pp. 295, 296, 302.

Rev. Jonathan Going, to whom the letter was addressed, was born in 1786. He
was pastor in Worcester, Mass., 1815-1831, and was one of the prime movers in the
organization of the Home Mission Society. He was its corresponding secretary from
1832 to 1837.— Ibid, pp. 307, 313, 355.

32 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

should prefer the southern section of the above-named states
to the northern, if the claims are equally imperious.

We feel confident that it is not the design of the Board
to send labourers into the moral wastes of the West to suf-
fer for the want of the necessaries of life, yet it would
be pleasing on our part to learn whether we shall be obliged
to depend, to any considerable extent, on any other resources
for our support than the preaching of the Word. We desire
to give ourselves to the preaching of the Word as far as
practicable.

We have increased the subscription for the Valley Mission
to $35 and two strings of gold beads. . . . We hope to
have one or more teachers, tolerably well qualified, to ac-
company us from this church on their own responsibility. . . .

We should gladly receive any instructions relative to the
Valley. Please ansvc^er this as soon as practicable.
Your obedient servant,

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,
Worcester, Mass.
To the care of

Rev. F. A. Willard,
Worcester, Mass.

Springfield, Vt., Oct. 31, 1832.
Rev. and Dear Sir:

I did not intend to trouble you with frequent communica-
tions when I last wrote you. But providences are at present
somewhat different from what I anticipated at that time.
Since I am determined to leave the place in a few months,
our people are inclined to direct their attention to another
man for their pastor, and I had engaged to spend my time
till I went to the Valley in collecting funds for the Home
Miss. Soc. under the direction of the Vt. Bapt. State Con-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 33

vention,^ and for the Vt. Branch of the Northern Bapt. Ed.
Soc.

But on my returning from the Convention last week I re-
ceived a letter from Br. Lawrence of Indianapolis, inviting
me to go immediately to that place ; stating in the same that
he had conversed with you on the subject, and you assured
him that the Home Missionary Society would furnish me
with an outfit if necessary and sustain me in that place. Al-
though I feel quite inadequate to sustain so important a
place, after conversing with Brethren Graves and Hall, be-
fore whom Br. Lawrence presented the claims of Indianapolis,
and with our friends in this place, I have with great reluct-
ance come to the conclusion that we would leave this place
as soon as the twelfth of Nov. for Indianapolis by water.
As the season is so far advanced that it will be impossible to
go out this fall if we wait to receive instructions from your
Board before we go, we thought we would venture to defray
our expenses from the avails of our furniture and rely on
the outfit to replace that after we arrived, and wait at In-
dianapolis for instructions. You may think me too pre-
sumptous. But I can assure you that I should not have
ventured so much had it not been for the fact that you ex-
pressed your wish when with us that I might go out the
present fall, if I could leave this people, and for the assur-
ance on the part of Br. Lawrence that you would approve of
the measure.

If this is not the place where you would wish me to la-
bour, it would rejoice me if you would direct me to some less
responsible station immediately on my arrival at Indianapolis.

We hope to arrive at that place as soon as the tenth of
Dec. and to find instructions there when we arrive.
Yours in the Kingdom of Jesus,

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Worcester, Mass.

2 The Vermont Baptist State Convention was organized in 1824. — Baptist Home
Missions in North America, 1832-1882, p. 296.

34 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 28, 1833.
Rev. and Dear Sir :

I now take my pen to give you an outline of God's provi-
dential dealings with us since we left New England. We
succeeded ... in adjusting our affairs at Springfield,
A'ermont, so that we took our leave of the brethren and
friends of that place on the 12th of Nov. last; and, finding
the season for journeying so far advanced as to render the
prospect of our reaching this place before the closing of canal
navigation very problematical, we spent no time in visiting
. . . . except five days with Mrs. Fisher's friends in N. Y.,
as we found ourselves compelled to seize the first oppor-
tunity, whatever might be the accommodations, or relinquish
our desired object. We proceeded by the way of
Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton and arrived at this
place on the 22nd of Dec. in comfortable health. The town
is pleasantly situated on the east banks of White river; but
presents to a stranger all the appearance of recent origin.-'
The place is fast filling up with emigrants, so that every log
cabin and almost every room in town contains a family. Rent
is high. One can scarcely rent a house of any description,
with a small garden attached to it, for less than fifty or sixty
dollars per year . . . Notwithstanding the extreme cheap-
ness of vegetables and meat, board is from $2.00 to $3.00 per
week and horsekeeping $2.00. We have taken a chamber for
a few weeks and, although but partially replenished with
furniture, we cook our own meals, expecting soon to fi:id a
small house which we can rent for the year. I shall delay
purchasing a horse till spring, as they may always be hired
for 30 cents per day. The principal religious societies are
the Methodist, which has by far the largest membershiji,
the Presbyterian, which has attached to it a very consider-

3. The site for Indianapolis was selected in 1820 by a commission appointed
by the state legislature. It was chosen because of its central location, but was in
an unhealthy situation and was but slowly settled. In 1821 it was surveyed by
Alexander Ralston, who had helped L' Enfant in his survey of Washington. In 1825
the first lejrislature met there. — Lyman P. Powell, Historic Towns of the Western
States (X. v., 1901), pp. 147-156. Tulia Henderson Levering, Historic Indiana (N.
Y., 1909), pp. 149-156.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 35

able number of the most influential men in town, and the
Baptist. This church has been in existence five or six years
and, in some of its earliest days, enjoyed peace and pros-
perity.* But to these days have succeeded years of adversity.
The present number of members is about fifty-five (and it
would be somewhat difficult to describe the various differ-
ences of faith which they embrace). They have no articles
of faith but the New Testament. It is said that several of
the most influential members are admirers of Alexander
Campbell's doctrines, ^ some are called New Lights,^ and
perhaps a majority of all the members are regular Baptists.
Society is still in its elements and exhibits but little of fixed
principles. Baptists from the several parts of the Union have
met in this place and brought with them all their prejudices.
At first our feelings revolted at the thought of uniting with
a church of this description. But upon more mature reflec-
tion we think the most effectual way of doing them good is
to conform to the present state of things as far as practica-
ble, hoping that the constant exhibitions of the humiliating
doctrines of the Cross will melt the stubborn hearts and
mould them into the likeness of their divine Master. As it
respects my support, nothing has yet been done by the
church. I expect the church will give me a formal invita-
tion to preach for them one year at their next monthly meet-
ing; and then I think something may be done by way of

4 The first Protestant church in Indiana was Baptist, the Owen, or Silver
Creek church. It was organized in November, 1798, not far from Louisville, Ky.
The early growth of the Baptists was hampered by the fact that so many were anti-
missionary ("hard-shell"). — Levering, Historic Indiana, p. 168.

The Presbyterian church was the oldest in the city, having been organized in
1823. — Ibid, p. 154. William T. Stott, Indiana Baptist History, p. 37.

5 By the "Campbellites," to whom reference is made here and in other places
through these early letters, are meant the Disciples of Christ. This movement was
started by Thomas and Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone, all formerly
Presbyterians, in the first two decades of the nineteenth century. At .first their
followers were in fellowship with Baptist churches, with whose ideas of baptism and
church government they were largely in agreement. Gradually, however, the Disci-
ples were seen to be at variance with some of the Baptist teachings of the time,
especially Calvinism, and they withdrew from the Baptists. This separation is
shown by these letters to have been in progress at the time they were written, and
something of the bitterness of the feelings aroused on both sides is seen. The
"Campbellite" teachings were especially popular in the Middle Western states.— En-
cyc. Brit., 11th ed., VIII :311. New Int'l. Encyc, VI :280.

6 The New Lights was another name given to the followers of Alexander
Campbell. — Stott, Indiana Bap. Hist., p. 54.

36 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

securing a small part of my support. I find eight or ten
brethren who have tolerably correct views respecting the
support of the gospel ; but they have never reduced their
principles to practice. These are mostly poor . . . Our
congregations are very small and our prospects of increasing
the number rapidly are not very flattering. Everything is
yet to be done for the Baptists in this place ; yet perhaps
this is the most important point to which we as a denomina-
tion can direct our attention in the whole state. Churches
are rising up about us in every direction, and I know of no
church in the whole Association which have preaching more
than one Sabbath each month ; and too much of that illy
adapted to promote the peace and harmony of the church. I
know of but two men in the whole Association, comprising
1'5 or 16 churches, who devote any considerable portion of
their time to the work of the ministry. As yet I have visited
but three of the neighboring churches and find them better
organized than the one in this place, but they are all, with
one exception, feeble bodies. I design spending some time in
the spring in visiting the churches on the Wabash, which is
destined to become the most commercial part of the state.
The Baptists in this town have never had a Sabbath school,
but those who are in favour of the institution have sent their
children to the ]\Iethodist and Presbyterian schools^ ; and
the Bible class has taken the same direction. We design
commencing a Bible class immediatel3\ as there is none in
town at present, and as soon as the mud disappears in the
spring we shall make an effort to get up a Sabbath school.
We have established a weekly prayer meeting. I spend most
of my time in visiting and preach from one to three evenings

in the week

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.

7 It will be recalled that at this time Haptists were divided on the matter of
the Sunday School, many opposing it.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 37

Indianapolis, Ind., March 29, 1833.
Rev. and Dear Sir:

By the blessing of the Great Head of the Church, our
lives and health are continued to the time when it becomes
our duty to give you an outline of my labours since our ar-
rival at this place. I regret that I have so little to communi-
cate in the present report that is cheering. And were it not
the fact that you have become personally acquainted with
many of the obstacles to the success of the missionary in this
region, I should despair of the subjoined reports meeting a
favourable reception with you. We arrived at this place, as
you have already learned, on the 22d of Dec. last. Found
the church (if indeed the association is worthy that name)
in a lamentably chaotic state. Yet I remained for some time
ignorant of the extent and inflexible obstinacy of the existing
evils. I had, however, learned that the church experienced
little else than one continued scene of discord for three whole
years ; that some of the principal members were regarded as
the disciples of Alexander Campbell, and that one of the
same had proposed to sell the house and dissolve the church.
I also learned that the church had no articles of faith. But
I did sanguinely hope, by preaching Christ crucified and en-
forcing practical godliness, that the tone of religious feeling
would become so elevated that a reconciliation would be
easily effected. These measures I adopted and for a while
they seemed to produce the desired effect. The congrega-
tion though small at most gradually increased ; the standard
of piety became more elevated, and, by the unanimous con-
sent of the church, the 15th of Feb. was spent in humiliation
and prayer. The ensuing day was the regular meeting of
the church, at which time Mrs. Fisher and myself, together
with two others, united with the church by letter; and three
disaffected members who had taken letters from the church
returned. Peace and harmony seemed to be restored. The
next day- the Lord's Supper was administered for the first
time since last May. At the close of the sacramental feast,
while the Spirit of Peace appeared to pervade the bosom of

38 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

every communicant, the Br. who had proposed to sell the
meeting-house arose and denounced the doctrine of the di-
vinity of Christ and entreated his ministering brethren never
more to publish the doctrine.^ I visited him the next day,
presented to him the evidences of the divinity of Christ as
taught in the Scriptures and administered a gentle reproof.
At the next monthly meeting of the church he came forward
and requested to be released from the duties of a member at
present, professing to be dissatisfied with the mode of wor-
ship, saying that he regarded it antichristian, and at the
same time renewing a former request that the church would
open the house for the use of the Campbellites on Friday
and Saturday of the present week and the ensuing Sabbath.
How many of the members are attached to his views, from
various causes, is not known. But a rupture will be occa-
sioned if the church attempt to discipline him. Our brethren
say the blow is aimed at me, inasmuch as the prospects of
the church have become somewhat brighter since my arrival.
We have an aged minister in the church who has seldom, and
perhaps never, preached for this church since his ordination,
who is decidedly opposed to giving the charge of the church
to any one minister. And in addition to this, it is reported
that one of the deacons of the church has declared himself
the Bishop of the church. With these and similar conditions,
the brethren have delayed giving me any formal invitation
to preach, but express a determination to bring the subject
forward on the next monthly meeting. Of course, no meas-
ures have yet been taken to secure any part of my support.
Yet I have the pledge of Br. Bradley and others that some-
thing shall be done soon. Nothing but a conviction of duty
would induce me to stay in this place a single week. But I
desire to learn and do the will of our divine Master. T have
not yet determined what is my duty, but shall be better able

8 The "Campbellites," or Disciples of Christ, were quite frequently denounced
as being Unitarians, and some indeed may have been such through a misunder-
standing of the teachings of their leaders. They are, however, Trinitarians, but
object to many terms of theology, such as "trinity," "eternally begotten," "co-
essential" and "consubstantial," and insist on the use in definition of no other
terms than those actually found in the New Testament.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 39

to judge when I have visited the churches on the Wabash,
which I contemplate doing in May, unless you should regard
such a tour unimportant.

On the 17th inst. I baptized one . . . and we expect
one or more brethren to unite by letter soon. I have a Bible
class of about twelve members, and contemplate commencing
a Sunday school soon if we stay in the place. The custom
of the place is but one sermon on the Sabbath. AVhen prac-
ticable I have preached once each Sabbath in the country.
Since my arrival have preached thirty-three times, established
and attended regularly a weekly prayer-meeting at the meet-
ing-house, spent as much time as practicable in visiting from
house to house, and visited four neighboring churches which
are supplied with monthly preaching, and all but one of which
are now oppressed with trials. We have become acquainted
with a young brother by the name of James Woods, who
was educated for a Presbyterian minister, but before com-
pleting his theological studies embraced the Baptist senti-
ments and united with the church in Spencer, the chief town
of Owen County. During the past year he has had the
charge of a Presbyterian Academy in this county (Marion).
He expresses a desire of devoting his whole time to the work
of the gospel ministry, and contemplates settling over the
church at Spencer and dividing his labours among two or
three churches in that vicinity. The place is 50 miles down
the river from this and, from his account, is a very desirable
place to be occupied by the Baptists. Br. Lawrence and my-
self think him a valuable acquisition to our ranks and ap-
prove of the measures he is pursuing, and feel safe in recom-
mending him to the A. B. H. M. S. as a suitable person to be
employed in the service of said Society in this state. He
will remove his wife immediately to Spencer, at which place
you can address him. Br. Lawrence has determined to
change the character of his school, so as to adapt its instruc-
tions principally to fitting young men for teachers and col-
lege. He designs adopting in part the manual labor system.
I expect to attend a meeting the fourth Saturday of next

40 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

month, the object of which is to consult on measures relative
to the formation of a State Convention. I have received from
one brother the use of his horse to the amount of one dollar
and the making a hoe from another, 75 cents.

Please give me your advice relative to the course to be
pursued with this church.

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,
New York, No. 4 Bowery.

Indianapolis, June the 23, 1833.
Rev. and Dear Br.

After a long delay I proceed to report in brief my services
for the quarter ending June the 22d. . . . When I first
learned the great variety of religious sentiments embraced
by the members of this church, I had but little hope of unit-
ing all the members in the doctrines of the gospel as em-
braced by the regular Baptists. And when I saw the determi-
nation of a brother who had almost the entire confidence of
the church to draw over all our members to A. Campbell's
faith, my hopes of success were still diminished. He was
untiring in his efforts and artful in his designs to rend the
last existing bond of union. Although our immediate pros-
pects of success seemed dark and all our efforts paralyzed,
yet I regarded the location of the church too important, and
many of her members too valuable to be abandoned in time
of the enemies' approach without an effort. I was regarded
the great obstacle that endangered the success of the Camp-
bell party, and when the motion was made to invite me to
the pastoral care of the church it met with spirited opposi-
tion, and on the whole our friends thought it best to invite
me in common with Brs. Lawrence and Hawkins to supply
the church. . . .

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 41

The body of the church, with the exception of the Arian
party, which is not large, appear more firmly united than
at any previous period since my arrival and express more
confidence of prosperity than they have had for years. But
I am not altogether confident we may not have other trials
to endure before we are altogether disincumbered of the
enemies of the cross of Christ. The brethren express a
strong desire that my labours may be continued with them.
Since April I have spent about one-third of my time in
labouring with this church, preaching on Sabbaths and at-
tending the regular prayer-meetings each Tuesday and visit-
ing during the week as much as practicable. The remaining
part of my time I spend in attending public meetings and
visiting the churches and preaching as often as circumstances
admit. I trust that more good may result to the denomina-
tion by this course than if all was prosperity at home and
my entire labours devoted to the interests of this church.
During last quarter, aside from the labours devoted to this
church, I rode about 500 miles, assisted in organizing the
General Association of Baptists of Indiana, attended a public
meeting at Noblesville, the seat of justice for Hamilton Co..
another at Greensburg, the seat for Decatur Co., visited
Franklin, the seat for Johnson Co., Greencastle, for Putnam
Co., Rockville, for Parke Co., Covington, for Fountain Co.,
and LaFayette, for Tippecanoe Co., and many other towns of
less note. My principal object has been to become acquaint-
ed with the state of the churches and at the same time to
promote the objects embraced by the General Association of
the state. The present prospects of a support, to any con-
siderable amount, are not very flattering. Yet I think there
will be a gradual increase (perhaps as great as in any other
place in the state) if my services are continued. No eflforts
have yet been made on the part of the church to raise any
part of my support, on account of the deplorable condition
in which we have been placed. I have received during t^
last quarter the amount of six dollars and thirty-four cents
in such articles as would be of service in my family. I feel

42 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

desirous of relieving the Board from all unnecessary expense,
and if my support becomes burdensome before I can raise
up churches which will freely sustain me, please inform me
and I will secure the principal part by teaching in the week
and preaching on the Sabbath. . . . It is the opinion of
the brethren in the ministry who feel the deepest interest
in the cause of Christ in Indiana that I ought to devote my
whole time to the interests of religion if I can be sustained.
I feel willing to spend my time in such a manner and at
such a place as will tell the most in the interests of our
divine Master. All of which I respectfully submit.
Yours in the fellowship of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.

... P. S. — Before mailing this, I wish to suggest a few
among the many important places in this state which dem-
mand the immediate attention of yovir Board. You know
the importance of attending to the wants of the church at
Salem, Washington Co.,^ from your personal acquaintance
with the place. This church has just lost her pastor, Br.
James McCoy, and wife by the cholera. '°. Rockville, Parke
Co., is one of the most commanding points on the Wabash.
. . . Several of the first men in the county express a de-
sire that an educated Baptist minister settle with them. Num-
bers of the churches in the vicinity are tired of Parker's
doctrines and only want a little influence exerted among them
to leave his ranks. I have been earnestly solicited to settle
with them. And if I should leave this place I know of no
other place which I should prefer for usefulness in the state.
If you send a man to Rockville, he must be one who is not
discouraged at trifles, for he would have to contend with thf^
ignorance and impudence of Parker's creatures. ^^ Covington,

9 Salem had been one of the aspirants for the state capital. — Levering, Historic
Indiana, p. 148.

10 This was possibly the Asiatic cholera. It was introduced into America in
1832 by emigrants from Europe. — Am. Cyc, IV:Sn.

11 Parkerism was the name given to a branch of the Baptists, the followers
of Rev. Daniel Parker, of the Wabash Valley. The anti-Sunday school, anti-Mission,
ultra-predestinarian views of the body were a great obstacle to missionary work. — ■
Bap. Home Missions in North Am., 1832-1882, p. 330. Stott, Ind. Bap. Hist., pp.
55 ff.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 43

25 miles above, likewise needs a preacher exceedingly at the
present time. Here is a small Baptist church. John Haw-
kins, a wealthy and liberal man, is a member of this church.
No minister of any order in this place. Greensburg, De-
catur Co., very much needs a minister who can teach and
preach part of the time in town and part of the time in the
surrounding country. Bartholomew Co. is one of great im-
portance to the Baptists, and demands immediate attention.
Loganport will become the Rochester of the state in a few
years. It ought to be attended to soon. . . . Hamilton
County needs a Baptist minister located at Noblesville, 22
miles up the river from this place. The church is small, but
of the right sort, and the brethren would do all they are able
for his support. A large school might be kept in operation
through the year in this place.

Yours, E. F.

Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,
No. 4 Bowery,
New^ York.

Indianapolis, Sept. 2, 1833.
Rev. and Dear Br. :

At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the General As-
sociation of Baptists of Indiana, I was directed to address
you by letter relative to the interests of the Redeemer's king-
dom in this state. When our General Association was organ-
ized we did not anticipate a general co-operation of the Bap-
tists without a long and determined efifort on the part of its
friends, and we feel confident that we shall not be disappoint-
ed in this respect. Yet our plans of operation meet with as
general approbation from the denomination as we anticipated.
We expect the amount of funds which will be forwarded to
our first annual meeting will be small, but our hands have
been put to the plough with a determined resolution to per-
severe, having the assurance that the enterprise pleases God.

44 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

We feel that no ordinary obstacles will induce us to abandon
the work.

As yet we have employed no agent, but some few indi-
viduals have engaged to do what they could in their imme-
diate vicinities for the Ass. without incurring any expense
of agencies till the time of our yearly meeting. . . . The
members of the Board, as far as we have been able to obtain
their opinion, are convinced that it will be important to the
promotion of the cause of religion that an efficient agent be
employed to travel through the state and labour under their
directions. The questions which we wish to propose at the
present are designed to secure your opinion on the following
subjects: If the Trustees of the Bapt. Gen. Ass. of Ind.
should think it advisable to appoint a general agent, would
it probably please the Board of the American Bapt. Home
Miss. Soc. to appoint a joint agent with said Ass. for this
state? If so, would your Board probably concur in the ap-
pointment of such an agent as the Trustees of the Gen. Ass.
of la.^^ shall recommend? WMiat proportion of the salary of
such an agent would your Board be willing to allow? We
think an agent may be found who will faithfully discharge
the duties of each board for the same salary which you give
the present agent for this state.

We deem it all important to the interests of the General
Association that a man be employed who is acquainted with
human nature as it exists with us. Please answer these in-
quiries immediately, as we shall wish to present the answer
before the Trustees at the annual meeting, which will take
place on the first Friday of next month.

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER. Cor. Sec. of the Gen.
Ass. of Bapt. of Ind.

N. B. — Our prospects in this town and vicinity are becom-
ing more flattering. The church in this place will probably
soon be freed from conflicting opinions and troublesome
members. I assisted in the constitution of a small church in

12 The abbreviation of la. stands for Indiana, not Iowa.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 45

a town ten miles east of this place on the National road,
about eight weeks ago, since which time I have visited them
four times and baptized four members, and two more are
to be received upon the administration of the ordinance of
baptism, which will take place soon. Prospects encouraging.

Yours, E. F.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,
No. 4 Bowery,
New York.

Indianapolis, Jan. 15th, 1834.
Dear Br. Going:

The time has arrived in which it becomes my duty to make
a condensed quarterly report of my labours as they stand
connected with the cause of religion in this place and vicinity.
This I do with mingled emotions of joy and grief. The
emigrant who enters the forest with limited resources, begins
to feel his bosom swell with joy as he sees the undergrowth
removed, and the fatal blow struck at the root of the more
stately trees, before the seed is sown and the blade begins
to shoot forth, the happy omen of the harvest. But, as he
finds his resources failing and turns his eye towards the huge
timber which remains as an incumbrance on his soil and
threatens to scatter blight and mildew among his grain be-
fore the time of harvest, despondency settles upon his heart
and sadness is depicted upon his countenance. You are well
aware, sir, these and kindred feelings must pervade the bo-
som of almost every true friend and servant of Christ, when
commencing his labours in a new country where society is
fluctuating, pecuniary resources limited and all the local pre-
judices of the several parts of the globe are brought together
and perpetually fanned to a flame. I rejoice to say that this
state of things is generally disappearing in this vicinity. But
the fruit of my labours has yet to be realized in a great
measure, or I fear that my patrons will have occasion to
take up the lamentation that they have laboured in vain and

46 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

spent their substance for that which is not bread. Yet, on
the whole, the prospects of the Baptists in this town are
more encouraging than they have ever been at any former
period since my arrival. During the quarter ending Dec.
the 22d, 1833, I have preached twenty times, attended twen-
ty-four preaching and conference meetings, mostly in this
town, attended the General Association of Baptists of Ind.
three days, the General Meeting of Western Baptists at
Cincinnati six days, the Danville Association in this state,
two meetings of the Indiana S. S. Unions held at this place,
assisted in the organization of a Baptist Sunday school and
Bible class at our house of worship on the first of Dec,
have attended them weekly and instructed the latter, con-
sisting of about 17 members. Our Sabbath school numbers
more than sixty regular scholars and fifteen teachers. They
both meet at the same place on the same hour, and a very
laudable interest is manifested by members of the congrega-
tion in the school. I have also attended one meeting of the
Board of the General Association of Baptists of Indiana ;
visited as much as the circumstances of my family would
admit, and devoted more time to study than in any former
quarter of the year, and this has been but for fractional
parts of days.

During the quarter we have had some two or three addi-
tions to the church by letter, but none by baptism. I have
$44 pledged for the last quarter by the church and citizens
of this place ; they have also raised $22 in aid of the funds
of the Gen. Ass. I am well aware that the part of my sup-
port which I receive from the people in this place may ap-
pear very trifling to your Board, but I think I am receiving
more from this people than any other Baptist minister in the
state receives directly from his people, and yet the state num-
bers more than 11, OCX) Baptists. I leave you to judge wheth-
er this is missionary ground.

The prospects of support are more flattering the ensuing
year than they were last spring. I do not neglect to remind

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 47

the leading brethren that something must be done at home
if they expect aid from abroad, and they seem well apprised
of the fact. All of which is respectfully submitted.

EZRA FISHER.
P.S. — As I have paper I will append a few remarks and in-
quiries. We have raised about $20 for an A. S. S. library,
and procured one dozen copies of Winchel's Works, which
are placed in the meeting house, hoping by this means to
procure uniformity in books. The few brethren who are able
and in favor of ministerial support contribute as liberally as
the brethren in the New England churches. I perceive that
my appointments make my 3^ear commence on the 8th of
Nov., but I did not arrive at this place till the 22d of Dec,
and I have made my reports from that date. Please inform
me whether you intend to have me conform my reports to
the time of the appointment or to the time of my arrival in
this place. We have an old minister in the church who
wishes to preach part of the time, and there are some in the
church who wish things to be so and it is thought expedient
for the present to let him preach at 11 half of the time, if he
chooses, and for me to preach the other half at 11, attend the
S. S. and Bible class each Sabbath at 2 P. M., and at 6 preach
again. It is believed that the old brother will not wish to
preach many weeks, if no opposition is manifested. His
congregations are said to be very small. As yet I have
preached in the country when he. preaches in town, so near
that I can return before 2 P. M. We have sustained a
weekly meeting on Tuesday evening, ever since last Feb-
ruary, and the interest is better sustained now than at the
commencement. We have also a regular meeting of the
S. S. teachers each Saturday evening.

Our expenses, after living as economically as we ever have
in our lives, are greater than when in Vt. But we do not
mean to complain, if our income will allow us to live so
that we can secure the greatest amount of usefulness to the
cause of our Blessed Redeemer in this state. We feel confi-

48 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

dent that Providence directed us to this place. If some min-
ister had not been directed here near the time in which we
came, the CampbelHtes would have probably taken the meet-
ing house and disbanded the church. The church is now in
a tolerable state of harmony.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,

Baptist Misison Room, Clinton Hall,
New York.

Indianapolis, Jan. 15, 1834.
Dear Br. Going:

At a meeting of the Board of the General Association of
Bapt. of Ind., held Dec. 11th, 1833, I was authorized to in-
form you that Br. Samuel Harding was appointed our Gen-
eral Agent for nine months after the first day of April next,
with the expectation that the Board of the A. B. H. M. Soc.
would appoint him their agent for this state the same term
of time. He is directed, on our part, to visit the most import-
ant places in the state and all the churches whose mem.bers
are known to be friendly to missionary operations, to form
auxiliary societies where it is practicable, to impress the
churches with a sense of the importance of at least in part
sustaining those who minister to them in spiritual things, to
attend associations and public meetings, to preach Christ
crucified wherever he goes, to cultivate a friendly intercourse
with the ministers of our denomination and to hold frequent
consultations with the leading men of our denomination who
are known to be friendly to benevolent operations.

The Board have agreed to pay him twelve dollars and fifty
cents per month on their part, with the expectation that your
Board will pay him the same amount. We would not take it
upon ourselves to dictate to your Board, yet we think the
small amount of funds which he will raise should be col-
lected in favor of the General Association of Indiana, as he
would probably raise more for this object than he would for
both, if they were both to be presented.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 49

Br. Harding is a tried friend to the benevolent operations
of 'the day, has acted as agent one year for the American
Sunday Schol Union and is as highly approved in the
churches and as generally known as any minister in the
state. . . .

Please address Br. Harding at Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER, Cor. Sec.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.

Bapt. Mission Room, Clinton Hall,
New York.

Indianapolis, March 4th, 1834.
Rev. and Dear Sir:

I take the opportunity to inform you of the state of things
in this region of country. The church in this place invited
me at their last meeting to preach all the time the
ensuing year, and, although our congregations are small and
the present prospect for support not the most flattering, I
think a greater amount of good will be realized to the de-
nomination in the state by complying with this request than
by any other course which I can pursue.

Very little can be effected for this place without a regular
ministr}^ every Sabbath and every day in the week. I am
invited to attend a church five miles from this place once
each month. This is destined to become an important coun-
try church. The brethren in this place think that the best
method to pursue is to exchange occasionally with a young
br.i-' who has lately been ordained in that church. By this
course we hope gradually to bring that church into the be-
nevolent measures of the day. Our Sabbath school flourishes
and, notw^ithstanding the mud and storms, we usually have
74 scholars, and my Bible class interests my entire evening

13 This was probably the Lick or Sick Creek church, and the "young brother,"
Rev. Thos. C. Townsend. See next letter, note 19.

50 CORRESPONDEX'CE OF THE

congregation, which varies from 40 to 60. I will write more
particulars in my next quarterly report. ...

Perhaps the discipline of this church can now/ be as
promptly and harmoniously exercised as in any of the New
England churches.

Br. Woods has removed his family into Shelby Co., about
six miles from Shelbyville, and the present arrangement is
that he preach to the two churches which Br. Harding^'* has
formerly attended, viz., Franklin, the seat of Johnson Co.,
the Blue River church in Johnson Co., and the remaining
time in Connersville, the seat of Fayette Co., and vicinity.
Perhaps Connersville is as important a point to be occupied
at this time as any in the state, and Franklin but a little less
so. The brethren in both these places are embracing correct
views of the support of the gospel and are only wanting the
man and the means to sustain in part the ministry. If Br.
W. should be successful at Connersville, I think that will be
the place for him to locate. He will probably realize $100 or
more from the three churches the present year, and, with
$100 more from the A. B. H. M. S., I think he will be com-
fortably sustained, as he will have no rents of account to
pay and his family are in the country. Br. Woods will re-
ceive communications from you at Shelbyville Postofifice
with the most convenience. He has some anxiety to know
whether he shall be continued by your Board. We have a
young br., recently from the vicinity of Brockport, N. Y.,
by the name of Eliphelet Williams, ^^ who is preaching with
acceptance to the churches in the vicinity of Shelbyville, and.
from the short acquaintance which we have had with him,
we think him well adapted to the place where Providence
has placed him, for the opportunities he has enjoyed. He

14 Rev. Samuel Harding was horn in Kentucky, Dec. 24. 1787, and moved
to Indiana in 1825, settling on lands seven miles southeast of Franklin on Blue
River. He helped to organize the Blue River and Franklin churches. He died in
1836. — W. N. Wyeth, in First Half Century of Franklin College, Franklin, Ind.,
Jubilee Exercises, 1884, Cincinnati, 1884, p. 11.

15 Eliphelet Williams helped in the organization of Franklin College. — Levering,
Historic Indiana, p. 426.

He was born in Ashford, Mass., in 1804, and came to Indiana in 1833. — Wyeth,
Half Century of Franklin College, p. 21.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 51

appears to be much such a man and preacher as Br. J. M.
Graves of Vt. was eight years ago. . . . It is now a favor-
able time for Baptist influence to be exerted in the town.
The people in Shelbyville and the churches to which he
would preach will probably give $100 the first year. Br.
Williams wishes to stay till Oct., then return to N. Y., spend
the winter in study, and in the spring come out and settle.
If your funds will justify you in giving him an appointment
of one year at $100, I think the money would be well ap-
propriated. The funds of our General Association are ex-
hausted, and we have already made appointments to almost
twice the amount collected the last year. But for this we
would pay him $50 for six months. If your funds will not
admit of his appointment, please write him immediately at
Shelbyville.

Br. Lewis Morgan, ^^ who was with me at Cincinnati, has
been discontinued from his agency in the service of the A.
S. S. Union, we all suppose through the influence of the
Gen. Agent of Indiana. The reason assigned is a want of
funds. Br. Morgan wishes to devote himself to the cause of
Christ, but says, unless he has some assistance, he must do
it at the sacrifice of a part of his farm, which he is deter-
mined to make, if assistances comes from no other quarter,
There are several destitute churches in his vicinity, unable
to contribute much, which seem naturally to look to him
for preaching or they must remain destitute. Would it be
practical for your Board to unloose his hands in part?
Please write him at Shelbyville and inform him whether any
help may be expected for him, or write Br. Harding at
Franklin respecting these cases severally, as he will enter
upon his labours the first of next month. Br. Nathaniel
Richmond.'^ who preaches at Noblesville, the seat of Ham-
ilton Co., at Pendleton, the falls of Fall Creek, an important

16 Rev. Lewis Morgan was born in Tennessee in 1788, and in 1816 moved to
Shelby County, Indiana. He died in Iowa in 1852. — Wyeth, Half Cent, of Franklin
College, p. 16.

17 Rev. Nathaniel Richmond came to Indiana from Onondaga County, N. Y., in
1817. His ministerial labors were largely in Fayette and Wavne Counties. — Wyeth,
Half Cent, of Franklin College, p. 20.

52 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

]

place, and at Cumberland, ten miles east of this on the Na-
tional road, had received no commission four weeks ago.
These are among the best preachers we have in the state.
If we except Brs. Harding, Rees^^ and Fairman, and one or
two in the south part of the state, they are the best. I feel
it important that the most promising talents in the state be
encouraged, if practicable, till the churches begin to feel the
importance of sustaining their own ministry and conveying
the blessings they now enjoy to the more destitute. A few
years with a faithful ministry will, under God, accomplish
this object.

Our requests may seem to be beyond your means but,
unless something more is done for Indiana, the present influ-
ence of our denomination must yield to other denominations
which are doing what they can for the salvation of the West.

My family are in tolerable health. Br. Holman's health is
partially restored. We expect several school teachers from
Mass. to come to this state this spring. One is much needed
in this place at present. I have been repeatedly solicited to
take the S. S. Agency, but I do not think it duty to leave
this place.

Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.

N.B. — A railroad will probably be commenced the present
season from Lawrenceburg to this place, which will event-
ually be continued to the Wabash, probably Lafayette.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,

Baptist Mission Room, Clinton Hall,
New York.

Indianapolis, April 9th, 1834.
Dear Brother :

Another quarter having passed away, never to be recalled,

18 Rev. William Rees was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and early moved to
Ohio, where in 1820 he was ordained. In 1832 or 1833 he moved to Delphi, Ind.,
where he founded the Baptist church. He died in 1849. — William T. Stott, Indiana
Baptist History, 1798-1908, p. 17.";.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. S3

it becomes my duty to report the amount of my labours and
their apparent success for the three months terminating
March the 22d. It is with regret that in the statement of
facts my reports present so Httle that is cheering to those
who are bestowing their prayers and alms to sustain the
cause of Christ in this place and vicinity. Yet to one who
has been an eye-witness to the various scenes through which
the church has passed in this place since our arrival, as well
as the interest which has been excited in the denomination
through the state, the conviction is strong that our labours
have not been in vain in the Lord. All the changes which
have taken place in this church since last summer have evi-
dently been preparing the way for a permanent Baptist influ-
ence to be exerted in this place. But hitherto it has all been
uphill work. Indeed, I believe it is one of the decrees of the
Almighty that His people shall not reap a plentiful harvest
from the fields on which they have bestowed no labour. I
sometimes feel to bless God that it is so. Our Sunday school
and Bible class, which together consist of about thirty-five
scholars, were both put into successful operation on the
eighth of Dec. last, and it was regarded altogether proble-
matical, both by friends and foes, whether the school could
be sustained. But it was made the subject of daily prayer,
and to our great satisfaction, in less than six weeks, our
school numbered more than sixty scholars, independent of
the Bible class. We then found ourselves obliged to take al-
most every member of my Bible class for teachers . . .
and to appoint another hour for the Bible class, which was
immediately after the evening preaching. By adopting this
plan we furnished the school with efficient teachers and se-
cured the attendance of the night congregation at the Bible
class, which continues to be sustained with more interest
than we had anticipated. The S. S. continued to increase
gradually till the close of the quarter. ... It numbered
89 scholars, and last Sabbath there were present 100 and
more than 20 teachers. One of the great sources of the suc-
cess of this school has been the weekly meetings of the

54 CORRESPOXDExVCE OF THE

teachers on Saturday evening, when plans are devised for the
promotion of the interest of the school. These plans are put
into practical operation during the ensuing week. These
meetings I attend and contribute perhaps my part of labours
through the week to this object. The state of the church is
gradually improving, so much so that at the regular meeting
in February the brethren were pretty unanimous in inviting
me to become their stated preacher, which was more than I
had anticipated could be done. . . . The Campbellite and
Arian influence is so reduced that we had nothing to fear
from that source, and a wholesome discipline is easily exer-
cised. We have religious exercises at each church meeting,
at which time I address those present, and all the business is
conducted with Christian unanimity. During the last quar-
ter I preached regularly twice each Sabbath, attended the
S. school at 2 P. M., and at 7 in the evening attended the
Bible class. I often deeply regret that we see no more fruit
of our labours by the ingathering of spiritual members to
the church, but while we thus lament we are not left without
some external tokens of God's favor. Our congregation has
undergone an entire change within eight months, still we
have a gradual increase at our Sabbath meetings and, within
a few weeks, I have found more than usual seriousness in
the minds of a few individuals. Comparatively little can be
done by way of preaching in town during the week. We,
however, sustain a regular weekly meeting each Tuesday
evening, which commenced about one year ago with five or
six attendants, and has increased to from 15 to 40. Of late
I have commenced giving a short discourse on these occa-
sions. On Saturday evening, as you have already learned,
I attend the teachers' meeting and usually address it. Al-
though I preach little during the week, almost every mo-
ment of my time is employed in town. I spend from one
to two days each week in preparing for the several exercises
of the Sabbath, and as much of my time as practicable in
visiting, after attending to the concerns of my family and
maintaining my correspondence.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 55

In summing up my labours for the last quarter, I find that
I have preached 23 times, assisted in the ordination of Br.
Thomas C. Townsend'^ at Sick Creek church ... at-
tended three church meetings at Indianapolis and one at
Sick Creek, administered the ordinance of the Supper once,
attended 13 prayer meetings, 12 teachers' meetings, the Sab.
school 13 times, the Bible class 9 times, heard preaching at
this place five times, attended two meetings of the County
Temperance Society,-'' assisted in the organization of a State
Peace Society, and spent as much time in visiting for the
purpose of promoting the interests of religion as was prac-
ticable, and, if not deceived, have enjoyed more of the Di-
vine Presence than in the same term of time at any former
period since I came to the Valley. If I know myself, I am
willing to make sacrifices and endure hardships, if, by so
doing, I can be made instrumental in increasing the light of
the knowledge of God among the inhabitants of the wide-
spread and luxuriant West.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

N.B. — By the strong solicitation of several members of
the church and the advice of others, I have consented to
take charge of a class of seven young ladies one quarter,
which occupies from one to two hours each day for five days
in the week. It is not my design to continue the class longer
than the middle of June. I needed the avails thus made
to enable me to sustain myself and family, and, on mature
deliberation, I thought the influence which it might exert on
the cause would be good, as they are young ladies of the

19 Rev. Thomas C. Townsend was born in Virginia in 1799, served as pastor
in several places in Indiana from 1834 on, and moved to Iowa about 1856. — William
T. Stott, Indiana Baptist History, 1798-1908, p. 145.

Stott calls the church Lick Creek, not Sick Creek, and says it was four miles
south of Indianapolis. — Ibid.

20 The temperance movement, to which mention is so often made in these let-
ters, began early in the nineteenth century. In the decade between 1820 and 1830
it had a remarkable growth, over a thousand societies existing in 1829. The first
national temperance convention met at Philadelphia in 1833, with delegates from
twenty-two states. — James Schouler, Hist, of the U. S., 111:524. Harpers Ency-
clopaedia of U. S. Hist., IX:39.

56 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

first respectability in town. The cause of truth is evidently
advancing in this state. A protracted meeting has recently
been held with the church to which Br. Harding (the Gen.
Agt.) preaches, during which more than twenty experienced
a hope in Christ. Prospects are flattering in the region
where Brother Richmond preaches ; four have recently been
baptized and more are expected to go forward in this ordi-
nance at the next meeting. We receive pleasing intelligence
from other sections of the state. We are confident that the
spirit of religious enterprise is gradually rising among the
Baptists. The high sound of Campbellism seems to be grad-
ually dying away like the slow murmurs of the evening bell.

As yet no efforts have been made to raise a part of my
support for the present year ; but I am assured that some-
thing will be done in a few weeks. Mr. Bradley, who is al-
ways ready to seize the most favourable opportunity, pro-
poses to wait till the merchants get on their summer goods
and business becomes a little more lively, which will be in
three or four weeks. The number of friends are increasing,
but the extreme pressure of times for which everyone is
looking, renders it doubtful whether we get much more
raised this year than we did the last, but I will inform you
more particularly on that subject soon. I shall give Nicholas
McCarty an order on you for thirty-one dollars due me for
the last quarter's services of last year ; and seventy-five dol-
lars due me for the last quarter's services, making in all $106.

I expect to attend the ordination of Br. James V. A.
Woods^i on the 4th Friday and Saturday of the present
month, six miles this side of Shelbyville.

Yours &c., E. FISHER.

P.S. — I expect to hear a young brother by the name of
Blood recite during the summer. He is about 18 and prom-
ises to be useful in the ministry. He is a descendant of El-

21 J. V. A. Woods helped to organize Franklin College. — Levering, Historic
Indiana, p. 426.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 57

der Blood. . . . 160 volumes in the S. S. Library.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,

Bapt. Mission Rooms, Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Indianapolis, July the 8th, 1834.
Dear Br. Going:

I have delayed making out my quarterly report for more
than two weeks, that I might be able to inform you whether
there were any prospects of my securing any '"':)nsiderable
part of my support for the current year from the people in
this place. The brethren have been waiting to avail them-
selves of the most favorable opportunity to start a subscrip-
tion paper, which was not issued till about the first of this
month. The success has somewhat exceeded my expecta-
tions. I have not yet ascertained the precise amount sub-
scribed, but it is said to exceed $120, and I think enough
more will be subscribed to make the amount $150. It is
truly gratifying to see the change which has been effected
. . . . during the last twelve months in this respect. Sub-
scriptions have been as liberal as could have been expected
from the same number of men and the same amount of
property in any of the New England congregations. I have
not altogether neglected to instruct the people, both in public
and private on suitable occasions, in the duties of the church
relative to the support of the gospel. With a few exceptions,
the scriptural rule has been kindly received. I doubt not but
there is more pledged the present year than would have been,
if I had not commenced building. Rents becoming high and
its being uncertain whether we could occupy a house three
months before it was sold, we determined to build a small
house, which will involve us about $200 in debt beyond our
present means. I get my lumber on credit from the former
treasurer of the state and present president of the bank. He
engages to await till I can pay it at six per cent interest
after the first year, and says, if he is prosperous in business.

58 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

he would rather give me the whole lumber than have me
leave the place.

The church in this place is enjoying more than an ordi-
nary degree of union and brotherly love ; but we have to
lament that as yet we have not experienced those effusions
of the Holy Spirit which are beginning to be enjoyed in
other parts of our land, and even in a few places in this
state. Our congregations are on the whole increasing, but so
slowly as to be imperceptible, except as we compare them
with what they were two or three months past. The as-
sembly manifest more than ordinary attention to the Word
preached . . . and I have found several instances of more
than usual seriousness during the past quarter, but have no
evidences of any hopeful conversions.

Our Sabbath school remains in a flourishing condition and
has about 130 scholars, of whom we have about 100 each
Sabbath. My Bible class continues prosperous.

During the past quarter, I have preached 43 times, attend-
ed 13 teachers' meetings . . . attended S. school 13 times,
attended the Bible class 12 times, attended four church
meetings, two protracted meetings, two county temperance
meetings, in which I participated, assisted in the constitu-
tion of one church four miles from this place, with which a
number of our members joined, assisted in the ordination of
Br. James V. A. Wood, one of your missionaries, assisted in
the organization of a ministerial conference for the central
part of the state of Ind., attended the semi-annual meeting
of the Board of the Gen. Ass. of Bapt. of Ind., attended a
meeting of the Baptists on the subject of Education,-- from
which I am sanguine that a Baptist literary institution will
be the result ; attended one funeral ; attended a class of six

22 This refers to the meeting of June 5, 1834, in Indianapolis, which was the
first step toward the organization of the future Franklin College. Another meeting
was held in October, and in 1835 the institution called "The Indiana Baptist Manual
Labor Institute" was located at Franklin. In 1836 a building was erected and in
1837 the first teacher was employed. In 1844 the institution was re-chartered as
Franklin College. G. C. Chandler, whose name appears frequently in the letters
from Oregon, was president, 1844-51. — W. C. Thompson, First Half Century of
Franklin College, pp. 29-37.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 59

females five times a week and visited as much as practicable
for the purpose of promoting the interests of religion and
education. If I am not much deceived, never did I feel so
strong a desire to see the cause of our blessed Redeemer ad-
vance in the Western Valley, and especially in the state. Al-
though we have many trials to which we were strangers
when in New England, yet the joy we feel in seeing an in-
terest beginning to be awakened to the great subject of
Christian enterprise among the Baptists in this state more
than compensates us for all our trials.^^. There is nothing
wanting but a few more efificient men in the field, judiciously
located, to see the Baptist cause rise in this state as fast as
it ever did in Mass. or New York. Prejudices are not so
deeply rooted as I anticipated before coming to the state,
and two years of devoted service in the cause of Christ and
His church will live down more than half the prejudices
which the enemy can array against an eastern minister. God
is evidently preparing the hearts of the people for just such
a ministry as you would wish to send us. Br. Harding is
labouring faithfully and with a good degree of success in the
cause of the Gen. Ass. In addition to the sum raised in this
place for my support the present year, I shall be disappoint-
ed if we do not raise at least $37.50 for the Gen. Ass., and,
should an institution of learning be located near this place,
something liberal will be contributed to that object. I feel
as though my family need the avails of my class in ad-
dition to my stated income to render our situation comfort-
able. . . .

All of which is respectfully submitted,

E. FISHER.
. . . . N.B. — Br. Woods will probably go to Logans

23 Here, as elsewhere through these letters, there is evidence in the growth of
the modern Baptist denomination, of the effort required to create in the extremely
individualistic Baptist churches, averse to Sunday schools, to a supported ministry,
and to extensive rnissionary and educational work, an interest in missions, home and
foreign, in education, in a supported ministry, and in an organized, aggressive de-
nominational life. It is to be expected that the extremely individualistic, democratic,
decentralized form of church should be developed and maintained longest on the
frontier, and that with the passing of frontier conditions, the more highly organized
church with its specialized ministry should come to prevail. The impetus, naturally,
came from the Atlantic states.

60 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Port, and I think perhaps it will be best. Men will some-
times work to the best advantage when they can feel at home
themselves. He has talents enough to sustain the place, if
he exercises enough of prudence. Connersville is now suf-
fering for the want of a minister. Lafayette needs an able,
efficient young man. Br. Fairman would do what he could
to sustain him. If you know of any suitable men for these
places, who can be principally sustained by the Home Mis-
sionary Soc. for two or three years, I should be in favor of
having our Gen. Agent visit those places the present summer
and learn what can be done.

E. F.

The south part of the state is suffering for the want of a
suitable man at Madison, and another at New Albany and
Salem. Vincennes, Terra Haute and Rockville ought not to
be overlooked.

I baptized one in this place last Sabbath and expect to bap-
tize several more the first week in August, 10 miles up Fall
Creek, where we shall probably have occasion to form a
church soon. The Lord is at work there for the Baptists.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,

Bapt. Mission Rooms, Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Indianapolis, Sept. the 29th, 1834.
Beloved Br. :

I am again called upon, agreeable to the terms of my ap-
pointment, to make my quarterly report for the quarter end-
ing the 22d of the present month, which is less interesting
than I could have wished. Although my family and myself
have suffered more from the climate the present season than
at any former period since we arrived in the place, yet we
feel to bless God that I have been enabled to attend all my
appointments except two or three. During the month of
July, I was subject to a disease resembling the flux, so as to

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 61

be confined principally to town. Since that time, Mrs. Fish-
er and our little daughter were severely afflicted, about ten
days each, with sore eyes. With these exceptions our health
and spirits have been good.

My occasional preaching has been directed principally on
Fall Creek and in the bounds of Pleasant Run church. Early
in the summer the Pleasant Run church received a number
by baptism, amounting to 12, mostly the fruits of a pro-
tracted meeting held in May. Up Fall Creek, 10 miles from
town, the prospects were flattering during the months of
June and July and I thought a work of grace had already
commenced. Several appeared unusually serious for a few
weeks, but one unfavourable occurrence seemed to cast a
gloom over the whole prospect. The wife of a man who
was said to have another wife living, offered herself as a
candidate for baptism. The church thought it not advisable
to receive her ; the family connexions being somewhat num-
erous, and several of them evidently serious, the circum-
stance seemed to chill the feelings of the whole settlement.
I trust, however, that the seed sown will eventually spring
up and bring forth fruit to the glory of God. One worthy
sister came forward and submitted to the ordinance of bap-
tism and united with the Pleasant Run church.

The cause of Christ in this place wears much the same
aspect as when I made my last quarterly report. On the 6th
of July I baptized one sister of an amiable Christian temper.
Sabbath school remains as flourishing as could be expected
during the sickly season. In consequence of the multiplicity
of services on the Sabbath, I have changed the character of
my Bible class, and am now spending an hour each Sabbath
in interpreting the historical part of the Old Testament, after
which I give an opportunity for any one to ask any ques-
tions relative to the portion of Scripture under review. The
plan succeeds well thus far. Our congregations have re-
mained as good in the sickly season as they were in the
spring, but no unusual attention to the subject of religion.

62 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

The church and citizens will probably pay half my salary
the present year. My attention has necessarily been en-
grossed more than I anticipated in my building, and much
more than it would, if my means would have justified me in
letting the job out to one man; but I feel to bless God that
this care is now principally off my hands, at least till the
pay day comes, and that may as well come in a house as
in rents for four years. I think you would judge in the same
way were you here. The cause of missions in our denomina-
tion is evidently gaining ground in this state, although it
is as evident that opposition is becoming more bold. Doubt-
less the majority of almost every association in the state is
either opposed or indifferent to the benevolent institutions.
The moderator of our association had the hardihood to warn
the brethren against all the benevolent institutions, but we
have little reason to fear his influence long. We are told
the triumphing" of the wicked is short. We feel confident
that the mission cause will eventually take root in every
church, if there is efficacy in prayer and efficiency in action,
for it is the praying and doing part of the church who are
awake to this subject. If war must be declared on this sub-
ject, we are prepared to act on the defensive. The subject
of education is one which has rested with great weight on
my mind, and I trust something efficient will be decided
upon relative to an institution adapted to our immediate
wants at the meeting of our General Association the present
week. Were it not for the great pressure of the times in
relation to money, we should have probably issued a sub-
scription list the present fall. We shall probably feel as
though we could not delay longer than till spring. A few
must make the commencement, or the time for the Baptists
in this state will be over in a few years. If we had anything
like an efficient ministry in this state at the present time, and
unity of action in the churches, the ground might be ours to
a great extent. The old and new school question is now
agitating the Presbyterian Church throughout the state, and
the question is not adapted to produce union in their

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 63

churches.2^ My services are so much needed in this place
that it is impracticable for me to attend many public meet-
ings abroad. If we could have one or two revival preachers
to travel and attend protracted meetings, for one or two
years, whenever they were invited, and to spend the rest
of their time in preaching at some important place or places
in the state, men who would not interfere with the broils in
churches unless solicited, I think much good might be ef-
fected. Such meetings are now becoming popular in the
churches.

During the past quarter I have preached 43 sermons, at-
tended ' one ordination, one association, 34 other meetings,
and visited as much of my time as practicable. . . .

Yours in gospel bonds,

EZRA FISHER.
N.B. — Br. Rice McCoy has departed this life. The event
occurred three or four weeks since. It may be said with em-
phasis that another good man has fallen.

P. S. — Br. Lawrence has joined the Campbellite Church in
Charlestown. My. fears are now realized.

Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,
Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Indianapolis, Nov. 25, 1834.
Dear Br.:

I received a letter from the Recording Sec. a few days
since, informing me of my reappointment for twelve months
at this place with a salary of $100, requesting me to answer
it soon. He likewise informed me that if I needed more to
sustain me it would be allowed on my representation^s. It is

24 The trouble between the Old School, or Conservative, and the New School,
or Liberal, Presbyterians came to a head in 1837, although the trouble had been
brewing for some years. The two parties virtually formed separate denominations
until their reunion in 1871. — McCIintock and Strong, Cyc. of Biblical, Theological
and Ecclesiastical Literature, VIH, 534.

64 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

altogether uncertain whether as much will be realized the
ensuing year as the present, from the consideration that
several contributed more liberally than they would, if I had
not been engaged in building a house. But I hope that as
much, and perhaps more, will be contributed from the people
here. ]\Iy congregation increases slowly and the Baptist
cause is altogether an uphill concern, but I do not despair
of its ultimate success. This place needs a more leading
mind and a more popular speaker than myself. The ground
is now cleared so far as the church is concerned. I will ac-
cept the appointment and labour to the best of my feeble
abilities, relying for the blessing on Him who alone can give
success to the Word, but, if you can find a more suitable
person to fill this place, I will most cheerfully retire to some
less responsible station, where God in His providence may
direct, but within the Valley. I must leave this for another
subject.

Yours &c.,

EZRA FISHER.
N.B. — I am directed by the Board of the Gen. Association
of Bapt. of Ind. to open a correspondence with you relative
to the expediency of sustaining an agent a part of next year.
You have doubtless before this time received a copy of the
minutes of our Gen. Ass., which contain an abstract of Br.
S. Harding's report for six months. He will probably raise
more than half enough money to pay him, awaken an interest
in a large number of churches and accomplish three times
as much in preaching as he would if he had been located in
the bounds of the churches which he ordinarily attends . . .
Will you lay this subject before the Board and inform me
before the first of January whether you will aid us another
year in sustaining an agent eight or ten months in the same
proportion as last year? The churches at Franklin and on
Blue river, which Br. Harding formerly attended, think they
can sustain him in the field all the time, if he can receive
$100 from the Home M. S. the next year. Br. Morgan will
receive little or nothing from the churches where he labours,

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 65

unless windows should be made in heaven. Under these con-
siderations, and believing Morgan equally as good an agent
as Harding, the probability is that more will be secured to
the cause by appointing him to this work than any other way
we can do, imless you can help us to a man able to meet
the western prejudices in this capacity.

E. FISHER, Cor. Sec.

P.S. — Aladison is now ready to receive a preacher of the
right sort ; and if Br. Mathews does not go there, do not
fail to send a suitable man if one can be found in the eastern
states.

Connersville is an important place for the Baptists, where
a man of the right sort might soon be sustained. . . . Our
great weakness consists in the want of a few strong men to
place in the most important places.

Br. Woods has gone to Logan Port. He needs a little of
that excellent grace which so eminently characterized Job.

E. F.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,
Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Indianapolis, Dec. 23, 1834.
Dear Brother :

The second year of my labours in the service of the A.
B. H. M. S. terminated yesterday. Although I have nothing
very cheering to communicate in connection with my labours,
yet on reviewing the influence which has been exterted on the
Baptist cause in this place and vicinity, I trust my labours
have not been wholly lost. Since the sickly season our con-
gregations have become more numerous than they have ever
been since we came to the place, and are very attentive. Be-
yond this I see but little evidence of fruit. Our Sunday
school has been better sustained than either of the other
schools in town.

66 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

The church is enjoying as great a degree of harmony as
has ever been experienced, and our last church meeting was
unusually interesting and two were received by letter. The
cause of temperance is gradually gaining ground in the town
and county. The cause of missions is gradually gaining
ground in this (Indianapolis) Association, but it must still
be years before the Association as a body will favour the
measures. This church is almost unanimously friendly to
benevolent operations, and I am fully convinced that almost
all the opposition is kept alive by a few members. An im-
provement is gradually going on in almost all the churches
with which I am personally acquainted. In relation to an
institution of learning under the direction of the Baptists
in Ind., I fear nothing efficient will be done before next Oct.,
as it seems almost impracticable to bring the friends to-
gether more than once in a year,-^ but the spirit is increasing.
During the past quarter I have preached 36 times, attended
teachers' meeting and S. S. 11 times each, heard 10 sermons,
attended the General Association and one protracted meet-
ing, three prayer meetings, three temperance meetings, three
church meetings and one at Sick Creek. The church has re-
ceived three by letter, two are waiting an opportunity, and I
expect to baptize one soon. I have had a class of six or
seven with whom I have spent from one hour to an hour and
a half five days in a week for ten weeks, but do not think
of hearing them more than two weeks, if I can meet the de-
mands against me without. But the expenses of building
have driven me to this alternative and I hope it will not
prove any essential injury to the cause of Christ. ... I wrote
you some time since signifying my acceptance of the ap-
pointment for the ensuing year. This I did, however, hoping
that, at the expiration of the year, you would find a more
able man to sustain this place and give me an opportunity
of locating in some less responsible place to which my tal-

25 More was done in 1835 than the author foresaw. Important meetings of the
Indiana Baptist Education Society were held in January and Tune of 1835. At the
June meeting a board of directors was appointed, which had by October secured
some land for the institution. — Thompson, in First Half Cent, of Franklin College,
pp. 29-31.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 67

ents will be equal. This town is emphatically a political one
and the care of all the churches must come upon the minister
locating here. . . . While I remain here I will endeavor to
subserve the interest of our divine Redeemer to the extent of
my abilities.

Yours in the service of our common Lord,

EZRA FISHER.

N.B. — I wrote you some time since relative to the pros-
pect of the A. B. H. M. S. uniting with the Gen. Ass. of
Ind. in sustaining a traveling agent 9 or 10 months next
year, and if you have not answered it, please do so soon.

P. S. — Br. Bradley, the most efficient lay brother in the
state, is now sick with a fever.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.,

Clinton Hall, New York City.

Indianapolis, Feb. 5, 1835.
Dear Brother :

I take my pen to inform you that I have been solicited
to become the Superintending Agent of Indiana for the
American Sunday School Union,^^ and my friends in this
place, both in the church and out, advise me to accept of
the appointment on condition that I receive the commission,
believing I shall be more useful to the cause in that capacity
than to have my labours confined to this place. If the Board
of A. S. S. U. should concur with the wishes of the Executive
Committee of the Ind. S. S. U., I think favourably of the
subject. In that case I shall have to request the Board of
the A. B. H. M. Soc. to send to this place a man of suit-
able talents as soon as he can be found. The door is fairly
open, and I think half a man's salary might be made here
the first year. We think of Br. George C. Sedwick, of Zanes-
ville, Br. Cressey-'' of South Boston, and Br. Matthews, now at

26. — The American Sunday School Union was organized in 1824. It immediate-
ly began to employ missionaries to organize Sunday schools, in addition to provid-
ing Sunday school literature. In 1830 it inaugurated a plan for establishing within
two years a Sunday school in every needy settlement in the Mississippi Valley. — The
New Shoff-Herzog Encyc. of Religious Knowledge, XI, 157-158.

68 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

Lawrenceburg, and feel confident one of the three can be
obtained. In case I engage in the S. S. business, I shall im-
mediately correspond with some of the brethren, with the
expectation that your Board will see that a suitable man is
sustained here.

The friends of education in Ind. met at this place the 14th
and 15th of last month, formed an educational society,^^
adopted a constitution for a literary institution and resolved
to decide on the place of location the first week in June, as
you will probably learn by the Cross and Baptist Journal in
the next number. There is a disposition to go ahead among
some of the brethren, but we want a Moses and an Aaron to
lead the great mass out from preconceived prejudices, by
which they are more strongly bound than were the Israelites
in Egypt. The cause is dying in Ind. for the want of a few
strong men and for want of strong faith in those we now
have. . . . Three or four men we must have the present
year, if they can be had and, I had almost said, sustained,
too, at your expense. Will your Board aid the Gen. Associa-
tion in sustaining an agent 8 or 10 months the present year?
On this subject we have received no answer from the letter
I wrote you more than two months ago. The Board have
resolved to put forth an efifort to raise $500 this year by
$5 subscriptions.

My health has been very poor the two past months from
the prevailing influenza, but is now almost restored.

S. S. flourishes and the cause in other respects remains
much as usual, except a gradual increase of attendants at
public worship the past winter, but things move very slowly.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,
New York City.

27 Rev. Timothy R. Cressy (1800-1S70), was with the author, both in college
and seminary. He was pastor in Massachusetts and Ohio, and became oastor of the
First church in Indiananolis in 1846. — Stott, Indiana Bapt. Hist., p. 147.

28 See notes 22 and 25.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 69

Indianapolis, March the 25, 1835.
Rev. and Dear Sir:

It becomes my duty to make my first quarterly report for
this year, and for the quarter ending the 22d of the present
month. I have preached the past quarter about 40 times, at-
tended the S. school and teachers' meeting weekly, the usual
temperance meetings, in one of which we have resolved to
make an effort to organize a society in every preaching place
in the county, if practicable, and I am appointed one of the
committee to see this resolution carried into eft'ect ; assisted
in the organization of a state Bapt. Ed. Soc.,^^ and framing
a constitution for an institution of learning; devoted as much
time to visiting as the state of my health and that of my
family would admit. S. school flourishing and numbers
about 90 students. Church in harmony, but religious interest
remarkably low in the whole town. I have accepted of the
appointment of S. S. Agent for the state and entered on the
services the 23d.

At the commencement of the year, when a subscription
should have been opened for my support, Br. Bradley (on
whom devolves a great part of the management of the
church) was dangerously ill, and about the time the subject
of my engaging in the S. S. cause began to be agitated, the
brethren were about to open a subscription, but that pre-
vented it and nothing has been said to me in relation to any
compensation for the three months' services, excepting by
one brother, who has paid me one dollar, and I presume noth-
ing will be done, although every member of the church ap-
proves of the plan of my future operations. AA^hile we have
never more needed help, Mrs. F. has a young babe and we
are obliged to keep a girl, while our other expenses have
been considerably enhanced. ]My expenses for the past quar-
ter have probably exceeded seventy-five dollars, exclusive of
rents. I regret exceedingly to throw myself entirely on your
Board for the past quarter. Under the present circum-
stances I shall order you to pay fifty dollars for my services

29 See notes 22 and 25.

70 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

and I will lose the balance. I shall not be compelled to
make any further draft on you for the ensuing year at least
while perhaps I may promote the cause in our denomination
more than I could at this place.

We have had five added by letter the last quarter; our S.
S. numbers 90 scholars, about 200 volumes in the library,
have a society for domestic missions.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.

N.B. — The church have taken measures to request Br.
Cressey to visit them, but the prospects for support are not
so immediately flattering as last year, almost one-third of our
supporters having removed and being about to remove from
the place, and some of them our most efficient members.
Yet the place is important, it being the capitol of the state.
Nothing further will be done till we learn the mind of Br. C.

Br. Woods, who is under appointment from your Board,
has been at Logan Port five or six months, and his pros-
pects as represented by him are flattering and lately some
hopeful conversions ; he wrote me some time since that he
feels peculiarly straitened for want of pecuniary resources,
and says he shall be obliged to abandon the object of preach-
ing in part, unless he can have more aid. I think the Gen.
Association will make him $25, if the people at L. Port will
raise $75. Will it not be best, in case he is disposed to re-
main at L. Port, to make him up $250 from all sources for
the present year? It costs more than twice as much to support
a family at L. P. as it does a few miles further down in the
country. That place is destined to become the Rochester of
Ind.,^^ and Br. Wood's talents are equal to the place, if he
does not faint by the way. I do not think a family can be
supported there and a man save a few dollars annually for
the infirmities of age short of $300 a year.

We have heard nothing from you relative to the expedi-
ency of sustaining a joint agent as last year in Ind. I think

30 This prophecy about Logansport was only partly fulfilled. It has extensive
railway shops and other manufactures, and in 1910 had a population of 19,000.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 71

it doubtful whether a suitable person can be found in the
state who will engage in that work.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,

Baptist Mission Rooms, Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Indianapolis, Jan. 23, 1836.
Dr. Going,
Dear Sir:
I take this opportunity to inform you of my designs rela-
tive to my future course. My mind has been strongly in-
clined towards the west part of the state of Illinois-'^ ever
since I saw you at the Western Convention at Cincinnati.
Yet the repeated solicitude of the friends in this state that
I should devote myself to the interests of the Institution
about to go into operation at Franklin for a while almost
gained the ascendancy over my better judgment. Had I not
been fully convinced that my health would not admit of a
sedentary life, I should have consented to go into the Institu-
tion as a teacher. Just at the time I declined being consid-
ered a candidate for that place, I received a pressing invita-
tion from the Board of the A. S. S. U. to continue in the
work in which I am now engaged. But, for reasons which
I suggested to you, I feel convinced that it is the will of the
Almighty that I should decline engaging another year in that
agency. I cherish the most cordial friendship to that insti-
tution, but, if my labours are worth anything, they are more
needed in the Baptist cause than in any other. I have there-
fore determined to remove as early as the first of next April
to one of the three following counties : Adams. Schuyler or
Hancock, if I can be sustained in the work of the ministry.
The brethren from Illinois informed me that their state con-
vention has appropriated $100 to the church in Quincy, pro-
vided they can obtain a suitable preacher. That, or Rush-

si Illinois, with Indiana, had been having a very rapid growth at this time,
just preceding the financial stringency of the later thirties.

72 CORRESPOXDEX'CE OF THE

ville, will probably be the place where I shall choose to la-
bour. It would be gratifying to me to know whether I
might expect any aid from the Bapt. Home Missionary So-
ciety, in the event of my engaging in the ministry in one
of those places, and not being entirely sustained by the
churches with whom I labour.

The institution at Franklin will probably go into operation
as early as the 20th of May.-'- Br. Levernet will probably
be the teacher for the first year. A building 38 by 26, one-
story, is being erected, to be completed the first day of May.
It is to contain a school room 26 feet square and a room 12
by 14 as a study for the teacher. Between $4,000 and $5,000
have been subscribed for this object, including the 88 acres
of land. If Br. Morgan's health does not fail, I think he
will increase the subscription the present year from $7,000 to
$10,000 in the state.

Under the present arrangement, little will be done for the
General Association. Unless a few efificient men are sent
out and almost entirely sustained in some of the prominent
places in the state by the H. M. Soc, the cause must rise
slowly for several years at least. With a very few excep-
tions, there is nothing like an inclination in the churches to
come up to their duty in the support of the gospel. The
brightest prospects of the Bapt. cause stand connected with
the anticipated institution at Franklin. Br. Spaulding has
arrived at Laporte, and his prospects are the most flattering
of any man in the state by far. The church expect to sup-
port him and are determined to go to the work, relying upon
God for success; and, if they bring their church to town, the
members within six miles from the place are able to entirely
sustain him.

In determining on the future course of my life, I have
been daily led to seek direction from the Most High, and, if

32 Warren Leverett was elected as teacher, but never served. The building
cost $350, and was finished about as indicated. For Rev. Lewis Morgan, see note 16.
Of the eighty-eight acres, eight had been given and eighty purchased. The eighty-
acre tract was later platted and sold off in lots for the benefit of the college. —
Thompson, in First Half Cent, of Franklin College, pp. 30-33.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 73

I have erred, I have done it seeking the path of duty, and the
solicitude has been doubly increased from the consideration
that in this matter I differ in opinion from so many of my
dearest friends on earth. If, in the end, it is found that I
have deviated from the path of duty, I trust the brethren
will rather attribute it to a lack in judgment than an inclina-
tion to disobey the calls of a gracious Providence.

Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,

Baptist Mission Rooms, Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Quincy, Adams Co., 111., May 5, 1836.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.
Dear Br.:
Agreeable to instructions communicated by Br. Luther
Crawford from the Board of the A. B. H. M. Soc, I left In-
dianapolis for this place the 12th of April, and, after more
than three weeks of mud and chills and fever, by the blessing
of Almighty God, I arrived at this place with my family yes-
terday about 2 P. M., with my health improved. I find in
this place and vicinity a small, feeble church, but apparently
united in the bonds of the gospel. They have, however, been
waiting in expectation of seeing a Br. Leach, from N. York
state, as a preacher who wrote them last winter, giving them
some encouragement that he would come out in May under
the patronage of your Board. The brethren answered him
some three months since, but have received no response. . . .
They express little hope of seeing Br. L., and as individuals
request me to stay with them at present and express the
warmest feelings of gratitude to your Board that they have
remembered Quincy. They think they must have preaching
in town every Sabbath. I learn, however, that the church on
Mill Creek, about 10 miles southeast of this, are expecting to
share in the labours of the man who preaches at this place,

74 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

and are willing also to share in the support of the gospel
to the extent of their ability. Perhaps this course may be
wise at present, if my labours should prove acceptable to
both churches. . . . The town is elevated somewhat more
than a hundred feet above high water mark on the bluff of
the river, and delightfully situated in every respect, except
that some parts of it are cut with deep ravines. . . . The
river along the town washes a fine quarry of limestone, so
as ■ to afford one of the finest landings for steamboats the
whole length of the town. There the largest sized boats un-
load their freight on the shore with the greatest convenience.
The place contains about 1,000 inhabitants,-'-' and is improv-
ing the present year more than in any three former years.
The country, back through the county, is the most delight-
fully rolling country and the most equally divided into tim-
ber and prairie I ever saw in my life, and, in point of fertility,
perhaps is not surpassed in the West. I wish you to send
me a copy of the American Baptist directed to this place,
and, if in the providence of the All-Wise, it may be my duty
to locate in another place, I shall hereafter direct it to be
sent there. I shall visit the churches in the adjacent coun-
try as far as practicable and wait at this place the disposal
of my future labours as God, and the churches, whose I wish
to be, may direct.

I remain.
Yours in the bonds of Christian affection.

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc,
Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Quincy, Nov. 9, 1836.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D,
Dear Br. :
At the expiration of the first quarter after my arrival at

33 In 1837, Quincy had a population of 1.653. — Am. Cyc, XIV, 153.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. * 75

this place, I neglected making a quarterly report on account
of my being unable to learn what part of my support could
be raised in the two churches to which I preach. I will now
proceed to report the substance of my labours for the last
six months, ending the 4th instant. On my arrival I found
the church in this place consisting of but 9 members. It was
constituted in Aug., 1835, and left entirely destitute of
preaching except two or three Sabbaths, when it was im-
posed on by a man who proved an abandoned villain. . . .
The brethren felt the need of a spiritual teacher, and re-
ceived me with all the cordiality desirable. They had main-
tained prayer and conference meetings twice each month for
several months. I did not visit the Bethany church till June,
but spent my time in this place doing what I could by visit-
ing and preaching, except two Sabbaths, on one of which
I was confined to my bed by chills and fever ;3'^ the other I
spent at a three days' meeting with the Union church, 16
miles N. E. from this, on Bear creek. I found the Bethany
church, consisting of 13 members, 10 miles S. E. of this, in a
most delightful part of the country, but surrounded by two
anti-mission Bapt. churches and three of other denominations
in the vicinity. Consequently the field of labour appeared
quite limited and immediate prospects of usefulness rather
forbidding, except that this little band of brethren were effi-
cient members, and we had the assurance that ours was the
cause of God and that truth is triumphant. I found this
church sustaining a S. S. and Bible class, both of which con-
sisted of the church members and their children. I preach
regularly with this church on the first and third Sabbaths and
on Sat. before the first, and attend the S. S. and B. class on
my preaching days. The congregations here have been very
small, till within the last six weeks, when they have nearly
doubled. In July, two were added by letter, and. at the close
of a three days' meeting last Sah.. I baptized one brother who
professes to have found the Saviour about three weeks since.

34 Malaria] fevers were very prevalent at this time in the Middle West, and
the supposed freedom of Oregon from them was one of the causes leading to its
settlement.

76 • CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

The meeting was pleasingly interesting and solemn, especial-
ly among the children, the brethren were revived, and the
field seems widening in this section of the country. The
congregations at Ouincy have been but a handful, except when
I preach in the Congregational house, which has been almost
every Sabbath for three months, when in town, and then the
house is filled to overflowing. We have nothing but a small
schoolroom to meet in as yet, but hope something will be
done next summer. The interest seems gradually increasing
and our meetings are becoming better attended. Our regular
meetings here are preaching twice each Sab., when I am in
the place, prayer meeting each Sab. night, prayer meeting
each Friday night and church conference the 2nd and 4th
Saturdays each month. The 4th Saturday in June a br.,
about 35 3^ears of age, and a young sister gave a relation of
their Christian experience to the church, and the next day,
in the presence of a large and attentive concourse, I had the
happiness of burying them in baptism. The interest of the
occasion to me was heightened by the reflection that the
Father of mercies had conferred on me the honor of being the
first Baptist minister to consecrate the Father of ^Vaters
above the mouth of the Illinois. I was again permitted to
administer the ordinance to a young br. on the 4th Sab. in
September. This church has received seven by letter since I
came to the place, so that our present number is 19. \\'e ex-
pect several additions to each of these churches in a feu-
weeks. We organized a small Sabbath school in this place
about two months ago, which now numbers about 25 schol-
ars. When in town, I attend the school regularly ; when ab-
sent, the brethren sustain prayer meeting at the time of the
morning services. Friday before the 5th Sabbath in July, I
met with the ministers of Salem Association at Newhope
church, McDonough Co., at which time we organized a ^Nlin-
isters' Conference and held a protracted meeting. On the
last Friday in Oct. we held a protracted meeting and Minis-
ters' Conference at Warsaw, 35 miles above this place, on the
river, and on the Sabbath I baptized an interesting young

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 11

brother into the church at that place. I attended a called
meeting of the State Convention at Springfield in Aug., but
was prevented from attending the annual meeting in con-
sequence of the sickness of Mrs. Fisher, who had the fever
for the second time since our arrival. In addition to the la-
bour, as named above, I have visited from house to house,
preached occasionally, and directed my labours to those ob-
jects which seemed most to demand my attention for the
promotion of the cause. These little churches are composed
of lively stones, and seem to me to be as praying a people
as any with whom I have ever lived. For the last two
months I think I have realized the importance of an entire
consecration to the work of the Lord more than I have l^e-
fore since I left Vermont. Yet I come far short of exercis-
ing that apostolic faith which is indispensable to the success
of a minister of Jesus Christ. O, that I might make the
glory of God the reigning passion of my soul till the salva-
tion of the Lord might go forth as brightness throughout this
region ! By the signs of the times I am bid to believe that
God will soon appear to build up His own Zion in this town
and vicinity. This town is rapidly improving and, although
about one-third of the present houses have been built since
spring, yet everything that has the name of cabin is full, and
numbers of families have been obliged to go to St. Louis
to winter. Board is very high, rent is as high as in N. York
City, wood is worth $4 per cord, and all kinds of provisions
are high except corn. Common labourers earn their dollar
a day and board, and woman's help is almost out of the
question. Our brethren here think I cannot support my fam-
ily short of $400 the present year, and I am convinced that
I cannot do it comfortably for a less sum. The two churches
think they can raise $200, but I expect it will fall somewhat
short. Immediately after my arrival, the corresponding sec-
retary of the State Convention gave me some encouragement
that I should receive $100 from that source, but I have not
yet learned whether I shall realize anything from that source.
As soon as I hear from him I will write vou. I have neces-

78 CORRESPOXDEN'CE OF THE

sarily incurred above $100 of debts since my arrival ; more
than I am able to meet at present. I shall order you to pay
$50 in a few days,

I remain, dear br., yours in Christian esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Society,
Clinton Hall,
New York City.

Quincy, Adams County, 111., March 30. 1837.
To the Corresponding Secretaries of the A. B. H. M. Soc.
Beloved Brethren :
I hasten to comply with a request I have just noticed in
the Pioneer. -^5 Our mails being so irregular at this season of
the year that my papers have been delayed about two weeks,
must be the only apology if this fails of reaching you in due
time. I have laboured in the service of the Society since the
first of last April. . . . Have supplied the church at this
place half the time and the Bethany church the remaining
half. We trust there have been six or eight cases of hopeful
conversions connected with my congregation in this place.
Six have been added to this church by baptism and seven-
teen by letter ; one to the Bethany church by baptism and four
by letter. I have also baptized one into the church at War-
saw, to which Br. N. Parks preaches. A small Sab. school
and Bible class is sustained in the Bethany church during
the warm season of the year. We have constituted a small
Sunday school at Quincy, which is sustained through the
winter, and two of the scholars and one of the teachers have
become hopefully pious. One hundred and twenty-five dol-
lars are pledged towards my support in this place, and sev-
enty-five at Bethany. The church in this place have contrib-
uted in aid of the 111. S. S. Union and the 111. Bapt. Ed.
Socy. ; the Bethany church have contributed in aid of the

35 The "Pioneer" was a Baptist paper, first published in 1829, in Illinois, by
Rev. J. M. Peck.— Bap. Home Missions in N. Am., 1832-1882, p. 305

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 79

A. Bible Soc, and the A. & F. Bible Soc, pledged something
in aid of the 111. Bapt. Ed. Socy., and contributed to the 111.
State Convention. Efforts have been made by both churches,
in connection with our fellow citizens, in favor of temper-
ance, and the cause is making very laudable advances. At
the last three monthly meetings in this place, more than
100 members were added ; the first of these meetings I ad-
dressed. Ten copies of religious periodicals are taken here,
and six at Bethany. As yet but a few hundred pages of
tracts have been distributed, but I hope in a few days to re-
ceive a packet from Alton. . . . The churches, although
small, are willing to do their duty when they learn it, and it
has never fallen to my lot to labour in a more inviting field.
The church in this place at the last meeting expressed a vote
of thanks to the Home Mission Soc'}- for the services ren-
dered them in sending them a preacher and aiding in his
support the present year, and, in view of the rising interests
in this place, resolved that it was their duty to use every
laudable means to sustain the gospel all the time in Quincy.
They further resolved that they would sustain a preacher
the whole time the ensuing year, provided the Home Mis-
sionary Soc'y would appropriate two hundred dollars to-
wards that object, and invited me to preach with them all
the time. I have not yet given them an answer, although it
is my decided opinion they should have the entire labours
of a preacher. I cannot sustain my family for a less sum
than four hundred dollars a year . . . and I shall be impelled
to preach a part of the time to the Bethany church ... or
be dependent upon the liberality of your Soc'y for half my
support. The brethren here say, two or three years and God
working with them, they hope to be able to sustain the
cause at home and help in sending it beyond them. That
you may be the better able to judge relative to my duty, I
will notice a few facts relative to this place.

The church, although few in number and poor, have re-
solved on building a house of worship, about forty-five feet
by fifty-five, with a basement . . . for a school, and have

80 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

secured, a lot six rods square, twelve rods north of the N. W.
corner of the public square . . . for eight hundred dollars on
a credit, have subscribed about eleven hundred dollars to-
wards erecting a house, and have increased the subscription
about four hundred more' from the citizens. We feel as
though our condition would justify us in adopting the too
fashionable practice of asking aid of our more able churches
in the accomplishment of this work. Would we not be justi-
fied in sending some one to solicit aid from the eastern
churches in the accomplishment of this work? The town is
growing (according to the common phraseology of the West)
with almost unparalleled rapidity. More than fifty frames
have gone up for dwellings and stores since the breaking up
of the winter, and the work of the season is hardly com-
menced. Rent is higher at this time than at any former
period. The state legislature have undertaken the construc-
tion of a railroad from Quincy, through Jacksonville and
Springfield, to intersect the Wabash and Erie canal at La-
fayette, Ind., which, when completed, will open a direct line
of communication with Buffalo, and thence up to Albany
and New York. The Congregational church sustain a preach-
er all the time. The Methodists one, and, in case of emerg-
ency, two. The Congregationalists are about to build a
house to cost at least ten thousand dollars. Last year the
Methodists built a house fifty feet square, with a basement
. . . and are calling on the public for aid to pay ofif their old
debts. The Lutherans are about sustaining a preacher, and
have secured a lot for a house. The Catholics have secured
a lot and are circulating their paper for a church, and the
Episcopal church are circulating their paper, soliciting aid
for erecting a chapel. Under these circumstances, compara-
tively little can be done without a suitable house and a man
on the ground.

While I write, it becomes my duty to represent the case
of the Bethany church. The church have agreed to purchase
a lot the present week in West Union, a little town rising up
in their midst, and intend building a house of worship this

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 81

year or next. . . . They are few in number, consisting of but
eighteen or nineteen, yet they are able and willing, for a new
country, and if they had a minister settled with them whom
they esteemed, they would take care of him to about $100
the first year. Although they were quite circumscribed last
spring by means of two anti-mission churches and an Arian
church, yet their field is becoming cleared, and I know of no
church in the vicinity more worthy a good minister than
they. They manifest an unwillingness to give me up. They
want a man capable of teaching them and with a good share
of common sense. A man located with them would find as
inviting a field before him in the rising towns in the south
part of this co., and in the north of Pike, as the state can af-
ford, leaving out a few of the prominent points. This church
is surrounded with a country unrivaled in point of beauty of
scenery and fertility of soil.

Yours with esteem,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I shall probably comply with the invitation of the
Quincy church, believing that you will judge it my duty on
the whole to devote my labours to this place and its imme-
diate vicinity.
Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Socy,

Baptist Mission Rooms, Clinton Hall.
New York City.

Quincy, Adams Co.. 111., May 11, 1837.
To the Corresponding Secretaries A. B. H. M. Soc,
Messrs. Going and Crawford .

Beloved Brethren :
I now take pen to report my labours from March the 30th
to May the 4th. . . . Since my last report we have had no
alterations in our churches. My labours have been bestowed
as usual. Our Sabbath congregations are rather increasing
at both places, but the pressure of worldly business in the

82 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

opening of the spring, together with circumstances beyond
our control, has brought about declension of vital piety in
both the churches. . . . The brethren in Quincy are making
some efforts to improve singing in public worship, but, com-
ing as we have from the several parts of the Union, we ex-
pect our advances in this work will be slow. We shall prob-
ably commence the work for a house of worship the present
year, although it is extremely expensive building this year
(never more so).

I failed of attending the Ministers' Conference of Salem
Association the last of April in consequence of the sickness
of my little daughter, but learn that the meeting was inter-
esting. The subject of the expediency of taking measures to
get up a high school on the Military Tract was discussed
and some preparatory measures were adopted, such as the
appointment of a committee to look out a suitable location.

The plan is somewhat novel, but, with a little capital and
skill, it may eventually succeed. The plan is to enter Con-
gress land, as much as can be done by inducing individuals
to make investments, and lay off a town, one-fourth of all
the property invested to be appropriated to the public school.
It is supposed by some that $2,000 or $3,000 can easily
be found for the commencement of the work.

In reviewing the labours of my past year, although im-
peded by sickness of my family, and more by a want of a
devout temper of mind and faith in God, I can do no less
than say, with emotions of gratitude to the great Head of
the church : "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us." The first
l)low has been struck, the field opened for more extensive
labours, eight have been baptized, twenty-one have been add-
ed by letter, one Sabbath school has been put in operation and
another sustained, a lot ha? been secured for a meeting house
in Quincy and the Bethany church have secured one for the
same purpose in West Union, a town in the vicinity, $200
has been raised for the support of the gospel, about $1,600
subscribed for a meeting house, and several benevolent in-
stitutions have been patronized.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 83

How and where I spend the ensuing year will depend in
part upon the decision of the Ex. Com. of the A. B. H. M.
Society.

I have already informed you that the Quincy church wish
my labours all the time, and have resolved to raise $200 for
the next year, provided the Home Missionary Society will
raise the rest of my support. I shall not give my answer
till I hear from you on this subject. Bethany church still
ask as great a portion of my labours as they can have. I
have given you my views relative to the importance of th?t
field.

Yours with esteem,

.... EZRA FISHER.

Quincy, Adams Co., 111., Nov. 29, 1^37.
Dear Br. Crawford :

I take pen ... to report for the first six months of the
year commencing May the 5th.

In view of all circumstances, I have concluded that it was
my duty to spend my whole time in this place the piesent
year and hazard consequences. At the commencement of
the year, the brethren agreed to raise $200 towards my sup-
port the current year, but their extra efforts to build a house
will probably cause some retrenchments on that sum. We
have experienced no signal displays of grace the present year.
I have baptized but one, and four have been received by let-
ter, making, after dismissing one, 36. I preach twice each
Sabbath, attend prayer meeting on Sabbath and Friday even-
ings each week, beside the other public meetings for moral
reform in the place, and visit as much as practicable. We
still sustain a small Sunday school. Our congregations fill
the small schoolroom, which we occupy, to overflowing and
would probably soon double if we had a convenient place.
A tolerable degree of harmony pervades the church at pres-
ent. We have raised by subscription about $2,000 towards
building a house forty feet by fifty, have the walls for the

84 CORRESPOXDEX'CE OF THE

basement story up and expect the frame will go up early in
the spring. We have our fears in relation to the event, but
we had about $1,500 on our subscription before the money
pressure came on,-'^ and to alter materially the size of the
house or to delay one year would render valueless much of
the subscription. (Within the last three or four weeks I
have laboured part of the time to render my family com-
fortable, and shall be under the necessity of doing something
more to sustain my family in a town where almost every
item of consumption is as high as in New York or Boston.
I mention this fact that you may be apprised of the course I
must necessarily pursue. Although nothing but necessity
would induce me to entangle myself with the affairs of this
world, I am willing that the world may know that I can,
with Paul, use these hands to minister to my necessities.)
The cause is evidently advancing in this (Salem) Associa-
tion, which includes almost the whole ^Military Tract north
of the south line of Adams County. As a body it is in favour
of sending the word of God and His servants to the ends
of the earth.

Quincy now contains 1,653 souls, according to the census
just taken, showing an increase of more than 900 within the
last two years.

We expect the railroad, from this place through Jackson-
ville and Springfield to intersect the Wabash and Erie Ca-
nal, will be put under contract the present winter for thirty
or forty miles, commencing at this place, so that the work
may be commenced in the spring. Our whole country is
destitute of Baptist preaching, except for my own labours
and those of two brethren who preach, each of them, one
Sabbath each month, but reside out of the county. It may be
said with emphasis that the fields are white already for the
harvest. But we are well supplied in comparison to the
region bordering on the river for 500 miles north of this,
including the north part of this state and Wisconsin Terri-

36 This was the effect of the financial panic of 1836, which for a time prostrated
business in the Middle West.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 85

tory. We may well ask the question, How can all this mul-
titude be fed, since our men and available means are so few?

I shall soon make a draft on you for fifty dollars. I sub-
scribe myself your brother and fellow labourer in the gospel
of the Kingdom.

EZRA FISHER.

Quincy, Adams Co., 111., March 22^, 1838.
Mr. Luther Crawford,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br.:

The health of my family has deterred me from sooner an-
swering your request in your circular, Mrs. F. having a
young child and it being impracticable to find help in this
place. Added to this, I have been engaged in teaching a
common school for the past six weeks to meet the expenses
of the family. But enough of apologies. I shall have la-
boured twelve months for the Society on the first of April.
My labours have been mostly confined to this place. . . . \^'e
have received one by baptism, and eleven by letter. There
have been one or two hopeful cases of conversion during the
past winter. The church have for the first time . . . resolv-
ed to take up quarterly collections in aid of Foreign Missions,
Home Missions, American and Foreign Bible Society and
Educational Society, these to be taken up the first Sabbath
in April, July, October and January. As a church we have
done nothing for any of these objects, although individuals
have done something. I have distributed about 2,000 pages
of tracts. Those exhibiting the peculiar doctrines of the de-
nomination are much needed in general among the members,
to say nothing of the community in general. We have a
small Sunday school, which has been in rather a languishing
state for six months past, yet is rather increasing of late,
numbering from ten to twenty scholars. A Bible class, just
organized of about ten young men and women, promises to
be a powerful auxiliary to the preaching of the Word. We

86 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

have a library of about 50 volumes in the Sunday school.
Most of the church are members of the temperance society
and are ready to give their voices in favour of all the socie-
ties of moral reform in the land, and some at least let their
cry go up to Him, who has made of one blood all nations
that dwell on the face of the earth, that He may in His
wisdom cause every yoke to be broken and the oppressed
everywhere to go free.

Our meeting house is now on our hands and our breth-
ren's hearts are almost fainting lest, when the house is erect-
ed to the worship of God, it shall be sold to the service of
Satan. If we had anticipated the present pressure every-
where, we should certainly have built small ; but so it is.
We were disappointed in from $600 to $1,000 in the case of
one brother in one of the Atlantic states, and in our hopes of
sending and soliciting from some of our more able churches.
If we had had a suitable place of worship last summer and
winter, our congregation would probably have been double
the present number, to say nothing of other embarrassing
circumstances under which we labour.

We have two promising young brethren in the church who
have commenced their studies (with a view of engaging in
the ministry) at a manual labour school, under the direction
of Dr. Nelson, about five miles from this place. The success
of Dr. N.'s school has strongly suggested the expediency of
the Baptists starting a school on the same plan somewhere
on the Mississippi between this place and the mouth of Rock
river. The plan is novel, but one which would naturally sug-
gest [itself when] without funds.

The church still solicit a continuance of my labours and
the further aid of your body. They are doing all they can to
sustain the cause.

You may ask why our S. S. and other societies are so
small. I have only two causes to oflfer among the many
that might be named. The field had been reaped again and
again before the Baptists raised the standard or thrust in the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 87

sickle. The other cause weighs ten fold more than that.
Our house of worship is only 18 by 20 feet, and at that a
dirty school room. This is the best we have in prospect till
we have a house.

The present population of the place is not much short
of 2,000 and weekly increasing. A railroad, intersecting the
Wabash and Erie Canal at La Fayette, Indiana, and termi-
nating at this place, is about being constructed, and about
one hundred miles will be under contract next month. This
and the fact that I am the only missionary Baptist preacher
in Adams County, a territory about 30 miles square, will sug-
gest to you the propriety of holding on at this place. Al-
though we have no business men, nor men of wealth in the
church, we are sure things will not long remain so. On the
whole, the prospects are encouraging in this county, as well
as in this place, and we are much needing three or four
faithful men to devote their time to the work in the county.
The church which I found numbering nine, one-third of
which were either unacquainted with missionary operations
or opposed to them, numbers about thirty-eight at this iime,
with fewer of the anti-effort members than at first. The
change has taken place harmoniously, although a few months
ago we feared we might experience a serious rupture, 'i ^^ ^
members, Campbellites in sentiment, came forward at our
last meeting and asked a letter of dismission, whicn was
readily granted, specifying the cause, and no unkind feelings
were manifested by either party.

I have found it necessary to teach a quarter in order to
sustain my family. What would you think of the plan of
my removal to Texas after this church get their meeting
house so far completed as to be able to worship in it, say
next fall or the following spring? I must say the subject
has rested with some weight on my mind and, if I were sure
duty called, I would not be disobedient to the Divine will.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

88 CORRESPONDEXXE OF THE

N. B. — Owing to the circumstance of our brethren having
the meeting house constantly on hand, they probably will
not raise more than half as much by subscription for my
support the year ending the fifth of May next as they antici-
pated. This is my only apology for . . . teaching. Yet they
have been very kind in presents to my family. About the
first of January they appointed a day in which they made us
a donation visit and brought in about $25 worth of presents.
As a body they are as kind and attentive to me as any of
the New England churches are to their pastors, and deeply
regret that they can do no more.

I wish not to have you infer from the suggestion I made
in relation to Texas that I am dissatisfied with either this
church or place. This place will soon ask for a man of
popular talents, and should have one. This being a popular
state in the N. E., many . . . will be willing to fill this place
where one will be willing to accept the privations of becom-
ing a pioneer in that important field. Probably my consti-
tution is as well adapted to that climate as to this.

Quincy, 111., May 14, 1838.
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. Crawford :
The year of my appointment in the service of the Board
. . . closed the fourth ult., and it devolves on me to make
a report of my labours since the time of my annual report,
which was in March last. My labours have been much the
same as formerly, w^hen I have written, except that there was
a failure on the part of the church of $100 towards my sup-
port. This subjected me to the necessity of teaching a quar-
ter, which increased my labours beyond my strength, and
compelled me to suspend to a great extent my pastoral
visits, which are always the most useful part of a stated
preacher's services — at least indispensable.

Our place of worship is altogether too strait for us, but
we hope, almost against hope, that in a few months we shall

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 89

be able to go into some part of our house, now in an ad-
vancing state. The field of labour for Baptists in town and
vicinity is gradually enlarging and, perhaps, there are not
more than three places in the state which call for the undi-
vided labours of faithful servants of Christ more than this.
We have had some changes since I last wrote, three of our
members having left us with a design of going over to the
Reformers, so-called, and perhaps, when you next hear from
me, some two or three more may have taken the same road.
But this has been done without difficulty, and, I had almost
said, without trial, as it is but what we have anticipated for
more than a year. We can say in the language of inspira-
tion, "They went out from us because they were not of us."
These changes have left the church almost entirely of one
heart and one mind, and, while we have spared some of our
numbers, we have been receiving others, so that at the pres-
ent time our little band has increased from nine to some-
what more than forty, since God in His providence directed
us to this place.

Our Sabbath school is small and Bible class rather inter-
esting, embracing a considerable portion of the church. A
majority of our members living in the country, our evening
prayer meetings are but thinly attended, but we sustain them
as often as twice each week. Temperance lectures are given
almost monthly in the place, and most of our members are
interested.

The church think they can raise $200 the coming year for
my support, and have the subscription made up, at this time,
within about $40. It is due to the church to say that last
year's failure occurred because of the meeting house sub-
scription being the engrossing subject. Although they failed
in this, they have been kind in presents, so that we shall
probably be able to meet the expenses of the year. If they
had the house ofif their hands, with the probable increase
in membership, I think they will gladly sustain a minister
in two years from this, and, from that time, you may expect

90 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

they will repay the H. M. Soc. by aiding them in sending
the gospel beyond them. They have voted thanks for past
favours to your Board and solicit your aid this year also.

This church is truly becoming one of the most pleasant
churches in the land, and will soon become one of the most
desirable situations for an efficient preacher in the whole
West.

It would require $500 to sustain a man with a small family
in this place so that he could devote, in the best manner, his
labours to the work. The way in which I bring around the
year is by uniting industry and economy with self denial. I
keep no horse and, of course, whenever I go five or ten miles
to preach, I imitate the example of our blessed Redeemer,
but I cannot do so much in the surrounding country where
labour is greatly needed. When my family are sick or
feeble, instead of paying from $2 to $4 per week for a girl,
which must be the case where help is hired, I must give the
best care I can, with the aid of Christian friends.

In a review of the two years since we have been in this
place, I have found the promise, "My grace is sufificient for
you," very precious to me. I feel that I am a frontiersman,
and when God in His providence shall indicate to me that
this place demands another than a frontier man, if my health
and that of my family admit, I hope once more to take a
frontier post. Did you ever think how comfortable Paul
must have felt, while, relying on the grace of God, he could
have the reflection to cherish, that he had so striven to
preach the gospel faithfully, not where Christ was named
lest he should build upon another man's foundation, but
that they to whom he was not spoken of should see ; and
they that had not heard should understand?
Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Yours by the hand of Br. Ford was kindly received.
Br. Ford has preached one Sabbath at Payson. I have not
yet learned what are his prospects.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 91

In relation to Texas, I have for four or five months felt
strong desires to see that field of labour, and the more I
think on the subject the more the arguments which induced
me to decide on leaving the New England states for the
Valley, operate to induce me to think it may before long be
my duty to remove to Texas. The argument is simply this,
that scores of eastern men may be induced to come to this
state where one will be induced to go to Texas. As relates
to the unsettled state of Texas, I judge, from all the infor-
mation I can gather from one of their papers, published at
the seat of Government, and coming regularly to this place,
that they now have little to fear from Mexico, and probably
by the opening of another spring, or even sooner^ the door
will be open so far as civil revolution stands connected with
the cause of Christ. I suppose that the fall, about the first
of November, would be as good a part of the year to go
from this place to Texas as any.^^

P. S. — Last Saturday two came forward to the church and
related their experience and were received for baptism, and
on the Sabbath I baptized one of them ; probably one more
will relate her experience soon ; these have been subjects
of grace during last winter. I shall make a draft on you of
fifty dollars soon.

Yours, E. F.

Quincy, Adams Co., 111., Aug. 14, 1838.
Rev. Luther Crawford,
Dear Br.:
I now take my pen to make my quarterly report in brief.
The scenes through which God in His wise providence has
called us to pass since I last wrote have been varied. Two
weeks ago last Friday we were called to consign to the em-
brace of death our infant daughter, after an illness of ten
days. We feel the stroke and hope we have kissed the rod,

37 It will be remembered that Texas was already fairly well settled by Ameri-
cans, and that attention had been drawn to it by its war of independence in 1835
and 1836.

92 CORRESPOXDEN'CE OF THE

humbly acknowledging the kindness of a Father's hand in
the afflictive providence. We trust, we sincerely pray that,
by this event, we may be the better prepared to devote our-
selves successfully to the work of proclaiming the glad tid-
ings of salvation to a lost race.

My labours have been confined to this place and vicinity
the last three months, except that I have attended one pro-
tracted meeting at Payson in May and the church conference
the first Saturday of June and July and preached on the suc-
ceeding Lord's days at the same place. The church is in-
creasing in that place in numbers and strength. I also
preached the last Sabbath in July to the church near Fair-
field, sixteen miles northeast from this place. At present
this church have preaching once each month, but they are
soon expecting Br. Segur from Jemaica, Long Island, to be-
come their pastor, and a large portion of his present church
to accompany him. My labours have been much the same
in this place as when I last reported, except that the field is
gradually enlarging and sickness and death have been more
frequent visitants among us than normal. Two of our num-
ber have fallen by death within the last three months ; one
of these was a very active sister, who died instantly by being
thrown from a wagon. I have baptized one into the fellow-
ship of this church since I last wrote ; an interesting sister.
Our meeting house moves on slowly ; we shall probably have
it enclosed and the floors laid in both stories, so as to be
able to meet in the basement story before cold weather, but
we shall, for our strength, have a heavy debt hanging over us.
Yet we are moving on with it better than we feared. We shall
perhaps eventually have to be driven to the painful necessity
of begging from our eastern churches, as our last resort, in
case of the property being put in jeopardy.

Our Sabbath school is rather increasing the present sum-
mer, and a Bible class has been organized. ... I intend es-
tablishing two or three regular weekly preaching places
within ten miles of town as soon as the sickly season and

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 93

our public meetings are past, which will not be till about
the middle of October. Please write me immediately relative
to the cause in Texas, if you have any information. I wish
you to inform me if you have a correspondence open with
the Texas church, and, if so, whether there are any insur-
mountable obstacles to sending the gospel to that people
also. Men go there and venture their lives and fortunes for
the sake of Mammon, notwithstanding that the affairs of the
Government may be in an unsettled state. I am inclined to
think, from what I can learn, that public confidence is being
confirmed in the stability of the Government, to say nothing
of the course which our nation has pursued in relation to
the independence of Texas. I learn that the English govern-
ment has entered into a treaty of commerce with Texas,
which I suppose is virtually recognizing its independence.^^
The relation which France sustains to Mexico contributes its
portion to cheer the prospects of Texas. The fact that the
English language is rapidly advancing westward, and the
thought that the power of the Pope must soon be broken in
all the republics of Spanish America, to me are strong argu-
ments why Baptists should be first in the field. Will you
inform me in what place the Texas Bapt. church is located,
or rather who will be the proper man for me to address by
letter and where he resides. I see subscribed to the letter
of the Texas church addressed to you some months since.
as early as January, the following names as the committee :
A. Buffington, Z. N. Morrell and Jas. R.Jenkins, but see noth-
ing by which I can determine their postoffice address. I am
willing once more to enter a new field of labour, if it is appar-
ent that duty calls, and to make all secondary causes yield to
the great work of preaching a Crucified Saviour. I say I am
willing. I think I can say I desire it. The church in this
place and the brethren in the surrounding churches are kind

38 The United States acknowledjred Texan independence in 1837. France in
1839, Belgium and Holland in 1840. A treaty with Great Britain recognizing Texan
independence was signed in 1840. British influence in Texas was much feared by
the United States in 1842 and 1843. — G. P. Garrison, Westward Extension (Ameri-
can Nation Series), pp. 96, 113. The report quoted by the author of a treaty with
Great Britain was evidently false.

94 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

to me and family, more so, according to ability, than in any
place we ever lived, and the field is wide here, but you will
probably much more readily find a man for this place than
for the unexplored field of Texas. Indeed, I suppose this
church could find a man of their choice who would willingly
heed their call in three months, if I were to remove. As it
respects the expense of living in Texas, if it now is an ob-
jection, that difficulty will probably be measurably obviated
after gathering the crops of the present year.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I forgot to notice in its appropriate place the fact
that the church at Ouincy have a subscription for my sup-
port the present year amounting to $200, which will prob-
ably be all realized, also that we have taken up a small col-
lection of something less than five dollars for the A. & F.
Bible Soc, and lately a collection of five dollars and seventy-
two cents for the Foreign Mission cause. Next quarterly
collection is Home Missions, then will follow, the ensuing
quarter, a collection for the Education Soc. We can do but
little for these objects, however important, till our meeting
house is out of danger.

Yours,

E. F.

Ouincy, Nov. 12, 1838.
Rev. Luther Crawford,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. Miss. Soc.
Dear Br.:

... I have laboured much as usual in this place and vi-
cinity the past three months, but, having been engaged in
attending public meetings about half the time, I can hardly
say that I think the cause has advanced materially. Indeed,
our Sabbath school and Bible class have almost become ex-
tinct; there were but the relics of them to be found yester-
day.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 95

Our Association, which held its session on the last of
Aug. and the first of Sept., was interesting, except that the
year showed a barrenness. On Sabbath I preached in favour
of Home Missions, after which a collection was taken up
amounting to $24.50. Here I will mention that the collec-
tion in Quincy church for that object has been deferred for
some weeks on account of the smallness of our congrega-
tions. It will be very small, but we shall give that subject
a place in three or four weeks. We are still cramped for
want of a house to worship in. It is somewhat doubtful
whether we shall be able to occupy any part of our house
till spring, but we talk of making a new effort to fit up a
part of the basement. I attended the State Conv. at Jack-
sonville. The interest of the meeting was somewhat dimin-
ished in consequence of the absence of a large number of
our ministers and business lay members, occasioned by sick-
ness in part. The principal business at the Convention was
the devising of a plan for putting into operation an itinerat-
ing system of preaching in the state and an attempt to raise
the Pioneer out of the mud in which at present it seems
stalled. Soon after my return from the Conv., I attended a
protracted meeting at Payson, Bethany church, commencing
Thursday before the 4th Sabbath in Oct. In the very com-
mencement of the meeting, we saw visible indications of Di-
vine favour by a voluntary disposition on the part of the
church to work for the Lord and to humble themselves be-
fore the Cross of Christ. Several Sabbath school children
were soon found ready to ask God's people to pray for them.
On the Sabbath I baptized a sister of the Methodist Church
and, before the close of the day, some two or three precious
youths were hoping in a Saviour's atoning blood. The work
had by this time assumed such a character that we judged
it duty to continue the meeting. On Monday, Br. Thomas
H. Ford was set apart by solemn ordination, after examina-
tion, with the following exercises : Ordaining prayer by Bro-
ther Jacob Bowen : imposition of hands by the Presbytery ;
charge by Br. Ezra Fisher ; hand of fellowship of the

96 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

churches by Br. Jesse Elledge ; address to the church by Br.
Aaron Trabne ; hymn and benediction by the candidate. Br.
Ford will probably labour hereafter mostly with the Gr'ggs-
ville church. The religious interest continued through the
week . . . and on the first Sabbath of this month I baptized
ten candidates into the Kingdom of Christ, after which I
continued with the church till the next Friday, and before I
left two more were received for baptism. The work seemed
still going on, although the weather had become so very dis-
agreeable that our meetings became thin. The brethren en-
gaged at intervals in this meeting were Brethren Kimball,
Bowen, Ford, Trabne, Elledge, Bailey and Cofifey, a licen-
tiate. I had omitted to mention that I baptized a young
sister into this church (Quincy) on the 3rd Sabbath in Oct.
The Bethany church feels as though they are now able to
support a minister without troubling the Home Missionary
Soc'y., and they will soon be able to aid in sending the Gos-
pel beyond them. . . .

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Quincy.

N. B. — In relation to the subject of my removal to Texas,
I must say that to me it is not an uninteresting subject. I
commend the prudent course your committee have adopted
in relation to this subject. What, and how many may be
the obstacles in the way of my preaching a crucified, risen
Saviour in that important field I am entirely unable to say,
and whether my desires on this subject will ever be gratified
depends on so man}^ circumstances that I am entirely un-
able to determine . . . what I shall do. . . . WHiatever may
be the final issue in this case, I am sure that I have had it in
my heart to go to Texas. The argument which you urge
against my going, . . . that I am doing tolerably well at
present, has been the strong argument which wise men have
urged against my removal in every case since I was first
settled in Cambridge, Vt. Put this reason beside the one
furnished you by your reporter, that I adhere tenaciously to

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 97

my Yankee notions, and see the paradox. In relation to this
subject, I would say that my Indiana friends were entirely
western and I had as fully the confidence of these men as
I ever had of any people ; and now the western men of a
neighboring church are, as individuals, pledging their word
that I shall have a support, if I will consent to receive an in-
vitation from their church to become their pastor, and this,
too, in full view of my course in relation to that exciting-
subject, slavery. •'''' ... .1 sincerely thank you for your kind-
ness in alluding to this subject, and I can assure you that my
general course is to conform to established usages as far as
practicable, if these usages are not sinful. . . . However,
considerations like those suggested never chained the master
spirit of Paul. ... So far as relates to my own health, and
that of my family, I am not at all certain that in the aggre-
gate the climate in this place is prejudicial. But suppose
that of Texas should be, if other men do not occupy that
field, should this fact justify me in abandoning it? Men
straight from New York hazard their all in the most un-
healthy points in the whole of that country for the sake of
pelf, and shall Christ's ministers suffer to pass unheeded
the promptings of His Spirit from such considerations? I
hold this as an irreducible axiom that duty and happiness
are inseparably connected. When convinced of the divine
Will in relation to my life, I know I shall be the most
happy and useful in following His admonitions. I wait with
anxiety to learn from Br. Orr the wants of Texas.

Yours, E. FISHER.

Quincy, 111.. March 29. 1839.
Corresponding Secretary of the American

Baptist Home Missionary Societ}'.
Respected Br. :

I have delayed making my quarterly report al^out two
weeks, expecting to learn the name of the l^rother appointed

' 39 The author had strong anti-slavery convictions.

98 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

in the place of Br. Crawford, deceased.'*^ The name not yet
appearing in the Banner and Pioneer, I have concluded to
delay no longer. I have little of importance to communicate
relative to my labours since I last wrote. I have preached
as usual in this place. About two months since, we removed
from the schoolroom, which we occupied for two years, to
a larger and more convenient room for public worship, and
soon found it filled on the Sabbath. The second Sabbath
in February I baptized one sister. Our Sunday school
seems somewhat revived for a few weeks past, but is still
small — about 20 scholars. Our female benevolent society
have, within a few weeks, incorporated with it a sewing
society, and, although the numbers are small, the prospects
are flattering. Last month we took up a collection of six
dollars in favor of the 111. Bapt. Education Socy. In addi-
tion to my ordinary labours in this place and vicinity, for
the last three months I have made three excursions of three
days each about twelve or fourteen miles into the country
and have preached two or three times each tour in the heart
of an old anti-missionary church, and I trust the labour has
not been lost. These labours, together with two sermons
preached by Br. Parks from Payson, have resulted in re-
viving the cause of temperance (just ready to die) in that
region, and bringing together the few scattered sheep in the
vicinity of a little town by the name of Benton, where thoy
agree to constitute a branch of Payson church, or an inde-
pendent church, next Wednesday, by the counsel of the
Ouincy and Payson churches. In that town will be put in
operation a Sabbath school as soon as the standard of the
Cross shall be raised. The field is one of considerable in-
terest and the Sabbath congregation at first will prob.ibly
be one hundred. Indeed, there has not been less than that
on either night in which I have preached in Benton. Al-
though, by some means, the place has not the best name in

40 Rev. I.uther Crawford had been corresponding secretary of the A. B. H. M. S.
from 1837 to his death in 1839. His successor, Rev. Henjamin .M. Hill, was not
elected until October, 1839, and did not enter upon his duties until March, 1840. —
Bap. Home Missions in N. Am., 1832-1882. pp. 346, 355.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 99

this part of the country, yet the assemblies have been order-
ly and very attentive. Our meeting-house concerns are
rather embarrassing and are in such condition that help
must come from some quarter before next year at this time
or the house and lot must go. If we could sell for cash a
part of the lot, which can be spared, we could make things
easy a few months, perhaps till fall. My plan is to ask for a
dismission next May, so as to give the church opportunity to
engage a minister in the eastern states who may raise a few
hundred dollars for this object before removing to this place.
I still think strongly of removing to Texas as a settler next
fall, if the political condition of the country will admit. I
have made known my intentions to some of the leading
brethren, who say that in this case they shall expect me to
preach with them till I leave, or till they can secure a pastor.
They still pray for aid another year, and hope, by the bless-
ing of God, that they may then be able to sustain their own
pastor and give some to the general cause.

In relation to Texas, I probably have as much informa-
tion respecting the physical conditions as you, but as it re-
lates to the Baptist cause, I know little except what I have
learned through the medium of your Executive Committee,
but that little speaks volumes.

It would be gratifying to me to learn whether Br. Orr
spent last winter in Texas and, if so, to have an epitome of
his tour, as I suppose it is in your possession.'*^ If I go out
next fall, I know I shall prefer on the whole to go on my
own responsibility, independent of the Board. Yet in that
case, I should like a recommendation from your Committee
as to my Christian and ministerial character.
I subscribe myself. Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Quincy, 111.

41 As early as 1832, Texas was thought of as a field of work by the B. H. M. S.
Some years later the "only Baptist church" in Texas applied for aid, and in 1838
Rev. David Orr, of Arkansas, was appointed. He was unable to go, but in 1839
Rev. James Huckins was appointed and went as exploring missionary and organized
a church at Galveston. Seven or eight Baptist churches were reported in 1840. In
that year the Society appealed for eight men to go to Texas. This may partly explain
the author's interest in the field. — Bap. Home Missions in N. Am., 1832-1882, pp. 328,
337.

100 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

Quincy, 111., May 7th, 1839.
Mr. John C. Murphy,

Cor. Sec. American Baptist Home Missionary Society
Dear Br.:

It becomes my duty to report to the Executive Committee
through you my services for the quarter ending the 4th instant.
I can simply say that I have laboured as usual in this place,
occasionally preached at Benton and Columbus Prairie dur-
ing the week, and spent one Saturday and Sabbath at the
above-named place where, on the 17th of April, we consti-
tuted a church of eight members and baptized one candidate.
The church in this place have dismissed three to unite with
the church at Benton, and two who have removed their resi-
dence, so that the church now numbers only about -K) or 41
members. At present the state of religion is low in this
place. I have asked a dismission from the pastoral care of
this church and my request has been granted, but the trus-
tees have invited me to labour with them till fall, perhaps
Oct. or Nov., as we expect we shall not remove till that
time, in the event we go to Texas.

During the past year I have baptized 13. The church have
raised about $30.00 for the various benevolent objects, in-
cluding the Sabbath school, paid $36.00 rent for a place of
worship and have been moving forward slowly and under
embarrassing circumstances with their house. Have raised
something less than $200 on subscription for my support,
have made us frequent presents and have sustained a small
Sabbath school. But we have experienced no special work
of grace in the conversion of sinners, and I often fear that
my own unfaithfulness may have stayed the showers of
mercy from this people.

The church are embarrassed with the meeting-house del)t.
The house is so far completed that it would do for summer
occupancy, but the contractor does not let us occupy it, al-
though it is said that he is paid. ,Yet for the want of about
$1,000 dollars over and above our abilitv. the church must

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 101

be hardly pressed before another May, and I fear the prop-
erty must be sacrificed.

My plan when I resigned was, that the church should in-
vite a man in some of the eastern states to become their
pastor who should be put in possession of the facts and then
raise from $500 to $1,000 for this object to bring on with
him. But some of our brethren are perhaps quite as ven-
turesome as prudent in this matter and are determined to
secure a pastor, if possible, independent of this object. But
for this debt, they could support a minister. Many are say-
ing that if we had our house open, a good congregation
might soon be collected. And why not, with a population of
2500 souls and that number rapidly increasing? The church
thankfully acknowledge the past favours of your Board and
solicit your further aid for the ensuing year. Although I
hope soon to occupy another field, yet I must say that in
my knowledge of 111., I cannot put my finger upon any
portion of the state more needing the labours of at least one
man of somewhat commanding talents than the twenty miles
back of and including this town.

I shall make a draft on you in a few days for the sum of
fifty dollars, being the sum due me for the six months end-
ing the 4th instant. All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Ouincy.
Mr. John C. Murphy,

Cor. Sec. American Bapt. Home Mission Society,
At the Mission Room, 118 Nassau Street,
New York Citv.

Iowa Territory, Davenport.^- Sept. 10. 1841.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bapt. H. ^Missionary Soc.
Dear Br.:

I take pen to make my c|uarterly report ending this day,

42 Davenport, at the foot of the upper rapids of the Mississippi, was laid out
in 1836, and in 1840 had 600 people. — Am. Cyc, V :704. Iowa had been erected into
a separate territory in 1838, and was being rapidly settled through the later forties.

102 CORRESPONDEX'CE OF THE

as my comniision was not received till June the 10th. 1 have
devoted my entire time to the work in this place and the
county above since last Nov.

In one particular I have not complied with your request,
as you will see by the following report. A division having
occurred in the church before my removal to this place and
the means of support being too limited to warrant my devot-
ing my entire labours to the place while there remained
other portions of the Territory, probably equally important,
entirely neglected, and other circumstances too numerous to
be named in this have induced me to pursue the course I
have, which is to the satisfaction of the brethren here. If,
when you have taken a map of the Ter. and have traced out
a region from twenty to fifty miles in width, extending from
the mouth of the Iowa River up the Mississippi to the
mouth of the Macoquetois (Moquoketa), and thence up that
stream some ten miles above its forks,, without a single Bap-
tist preacher but myself, where are now materials for the
organization of six or seven small churches, your Board
shall be dissatisfied with the course I have pursued, I will
comply with any reasonable instructions which they may
hereafter give. If my course has given satisfaction, I shall
continue to comply with the general instructions, but prob-
ably not spend more than half my time in this place.

During the quarter I have preached somewhat more than
half the time in this place, once each month at Parkhurst,
at the head of the upper rapids, sixteen miles above this ;
one Sabbath at Wyoming, on this river, 25 miles below
this, and have visited Bloomington twice, spending one Sab-
bath there. This place is at the most commanding point
commercially in the Territory, and I hope a church will be
constituted in a few months.

I have spent one Sabbath at the Forks of the JNIacoquetois
[ Moquoketa] . in Jackson Co., and found about 20 Baptists.
There also they took some incipient measures for the con-
stitution of a church. In this place is a heavy settlement

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 103

and it seems destined to be an important point, as the coun-
try is well timbered, has a fine soil, is contiguous to the
mining region^^ and is so situated that from Dubuque to
Bloomington, a distance of 150 miles by water, no point of
the Mississippi is more than 50 miles distant.

I have also preached one Sabbath, and occasionally in the
week, 14 miles N. W. from this.

You will see then that I statedly supply Davenport and
Parkhurst. The church at Parkhurst, at the head of the up-
per rapids, is called the Bath Baptist Church. I reside in
Davenport, Scott County, I. T. ; postoffice in the place.
This report is for the first quarter of my appointment. I
have devoted my entire time to the work of the ministry
except for providing ordinary food and raiment for my
family.

During the quarter I have preached 27 sermons, delivered
two temperance addresses and . five addresses on other sub-
jects, attended six church conference meetings, one church
meeting for business, two conference meetings on the sub-
ject of preparing for church organizations at Bloomington
and the Forks of Macoquetois, attended two monthly con-
certs, and travelled 477 miles to and from appointments.
.... Received four by letter into the churches. I have
made 49 religious visits in almost as many families. Month-
ly concert is attended only at Davenport. I have visited one
school. I have obtained signatures to the temperance pledge
and been instrumental in the constitution of two temperance
societies. I have received nothing for the benevolent so-
cieties, but $11 towards my support. There are two Sunday
schools connected with the congregations of my charge. 12
teachers and about 60 scholars; both libraries contain al)out
100 volumes.

We have a small women's sewing society for the purpose
of promoting the S. school interests.

43 These mines were for lead and iron. (See letter of March 10, 1842.)

]€4 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I propose visiting" Bloomington and vicinity and The
Forks of the Macoquetois as often as circumstances will ad-
mit ; and perhaps I shall visit Lynn Co. before the year
terminates. I also contemplate attending the 111. State Con-
vention next month.

By the blessing of our heavenly Father my health and
that of my family have been tolerably good during the whole
of the sickly season. But my lungs are feeble and I do
not think the climate agrees with them so well as it has
further south, although it is more like a New England cli-
mate.

Our prairies are large, the population sparse, except in the
river tow^ns and in the small groves, but the field is truly in-
viting to a healthy, self-denying pioneer.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,

Missionary.

N. B. — Everything is new and fluctuating, still, amid all
the discouragements, our congregations are good and atten-
tive, for a new country, and the people are generally willing
to contribute to the support of the gospel in the products
of the earth. I shall probably receive about $150 in produce
from the people for this year's services.

Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bapt. Home Miss. S jc,
No. 9 Spruce Street,
New York.

Iowa Ter., Davenport, Scott Co., Dec. 10, 1841.
Mr. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.

Dear Br.:

I now take my pen to report a summary of my labours
during the last quarter ending this day. The present field of
labour is somewhat extensive. I at present preach two Sab-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 105

baths in a month at this place, and, as often as circumstances
will admit, at Hickory Grove, fifteen miles N. W. from this,
where a part of the members of the church live, and one
Sabbath each month to the church at the head of the Upper
Rapids, 15 miles above this in Scott Co. I extend my la-
bours from the mouth of the Wabepsipineca [Wapsipinicon]
River to Davenport. I have made arrangements, since my
last report, to preach once each month in Bloomington, 30
miles below this on the Missisippi and the seat of justice for
Muscatine County. I also preach monthly on a week day
at Salem, a small town 8 miles above Bloomington, on the
river.

I constituted a church of six members at Bloomington on
the 31st of Oct., and the prospects are flattering that some
seven or eight will soon unite by letter. This little band
have established a weekly prayer meeting" and talk of pay-
ing me one hundred dollars for one fourth of my time the
ensuing" year. In this place our congregations are large for
a new place.

The churches are not yet associated in this part of the
territory, but probably will be next spring. I still reside at
Davenport.

I have probably laboured about ten weeks directly for the
Home Missionary Society and spent as little time as prac-
ticable in providing for my family.

During the quarter I have preached 28 sermons, delivered
9 addresses, attended 3 prayer meetings, 5 covenant meetings,
one council for the constitution of the church at Blooming-
ton, travelled 750 miles, attended the Illinois State Conven-
tion and, on my return, attended a protracted meeting with
the Rock Spring church, 6 miles back from Burlington.
There were eight hopeful cases of conversion and six were
examined for baptism. Father Ogle, the aged pastor, Br.
Joseph Lemon and Br. Van Brunt, with myself, were the la-
bourers. Baptism was deferred two weeks.

106 CORRESPOXDEN'CE OF THE

We have received one by letter into the church in Daven-
port and one at Bloomington during the quarter. I have
visited 56 famiHes, including the sick, during the quarter.
The monthly concert is observed only by the church at Dav-
enport, and then only when I am in the place.

I have visited but one school this quarter. The serious dif-
ficulty which occurred in the church in this place before our
removal here is yet unsettled. We are hoping to dispose of
it in two or three months. Prospects are rather unpromis-
ing till the matter is finally adjusted. It is truly painful to
the minister to see all his influence paralyzed in a point of
so much promise as this, by the waywardness (not to say
stubbornness) of a few brethren lovely in other respects.
We very much need a man at the forks of the Macoquetois
[^foquoketa], at which point your old friend Br. Doolittle
is situated. I have no doubt the brethren there would give
a man, with a small family, half a support for half his ser-
vices and he would find a good field for labour the remaining
half. It is possible I may think it best to remove to Bloom-
ington in the spring, as the friends there express a desire that
I do so.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Davenport and vicinity.

N. B. — During the summer there has been a S. school at
Parkhurst, at the head of the Upper Rapids. We have one
in Davenport connected with the Baptist church, and there
is one in Bloomington in which the Baptist members and
supporters bear an important part.

Yours, E. FISHER.
Indorsed :

Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Corresponding Secretary A. B. H. M. S.,
Office of the American Baptist
Home Mission Society,
New York City.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 107

Iowa Territory, Muscatine County, Bloomington ■^^ [Mus-
catine], March 10th, 1842.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Socy.
Respected Br. :

The time has arrived for me to make my report for the
third quarter ending this day. My engagement with the
church in Davenport having expired, and, having received a
unanimous call from the feeble church which I constituted
in this place last Oct., I have judged it duty to comply with
the request, and we moved the present week. We look upon
this as a more important point than our former place of
residence, and present prospects are more flattering. It is
due however to the church at Davenport to say that their
protracted difficulties seem to be drawing to a close and we
hope the issue will be a happy one. They are making an
effort to build a house the coming season ; and a part of the
church think their best policy is to build and after that look
out a pastor, but a majority of the members and supporters
do not think this is the best policy. I shall visit them occa^
sionally during the summer. On the whole, Davenport and
Rock Island, formerly Stephenson, 111., directly opposite, are
too important points to be neglected and there never was a
more favorable time for Baptists to work in those places, if
they could harmonize among themselves.

I preach two Sabbaths each month in Bloomington, one in
Parkhurst, at the head of the upper rapids, occasionally in
Davenport and vicinity, have once visited the Forks of the
Macoquetois in Jackson County, and once De Witt, the
county seat of Clinton County. Bloomington will be my
post office address hereafter. The Forks of the Macoquetois
needs a man of good, practical talents who can for a few-
years undergo the privations of a new county. He will find
it a most inviting field. This region of country is properly

44 Bloomington began as a trading post in 1833. It was laid out in 1836, and
incorporated in 1839. It was chartered as a city in 1851 under the name of Musca-
tine, which it now bears. — Ency. Rrit., 11th ed. XIX :44.

108 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

called the Genesee of Iowa, while it has the additional
advantage of being located on the border of a rich lead and
iron region. Twenty efBcient members could be organized
into a church at this time.

I have devoted all my time, with the exception of a very
few days, to my professional duties. 1 have preached thirty-
two sermons, delivered eleven addresses on temperance and
Sabbath schools, attended eight covenant and church meet-
ings and travelled in the performance of my professional du-
ties five hundred and seventy miles.

We have had more than usual attention to the subject of
religion in Parkhurst and vicinity, and there have been three
cases of hopeful conversion, but I have baptized none. W^e
have received two to the Bloomington church by letter, one
to the church at Parkhurst and two to the Davenport church ;
making in all five. I have visited, including the sick, 40
families, and perhaps as many individuals. At the meetings
which I have addressed, we have received 69 names to the
total abstinence pledge. I have assisted in organizing the
Scott County Temperance Society. The churches at Bloom-
ington and Parkhurst maintain a weekly prayer meet rg. but
the monthly concert is not at this time sustained in any of
the churches. There have been but two Sabbath schools in
operation the past quarter among the people where I labour,
and one of those, the one at Davenport, is now suspended. I
have received during the last quarter about sixty-six dollars
towards my support. The church and friends in this pla'V
will probably pay me about one hundred and fifty dollars for
half of the time the coming year. The remaining part of
the time I shall labour in new and destitute portions of this
and adjacent counties where but little can be expected. I
shall therefore have to look to the Board of the Baptist
Home Missionary Society for aid another year or limit the
field of my labours, and this seems almost impossible while
the cry is on every hand. "We have a few Baptists in our
settlements and you will have a congregation, if you will

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 109

come and visit us, but we have had no preaching of tlie right
sort since we crossed the Mississippi." These cries come
from important places where are rising villages. I have
paid more than $100 the past year out of my own funds to
sustain my family, and I wish I could continue to make that
yearly sacrifice for the cause of our Blessed Redeemer, but
this cannot long be. These feeble churches are willing to
contribute liberally, for their ability, to sustain the gospel,
and, if fostered a little now, will soon aid in carrying the
gospel beyond them.

By the blessing of God our health has been tolerably good
during the past three quarters.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

EZRA FISHER.

Bloomington [Muscatine], Muscatine Co., Iowa Territory,

May 9th, 1842."^
To the American Baptist Home Mission Society.
Dear Brethren :

On Sabbath last, after preaching on the 8th inst., the first
regular Baptist church of Bloomington was called to order,
and on motion, the clerk of the church was instructed to pre-
pare a letter setting forth their wants and desires and asking
the Board of the Home Mission Society to render us some
assistance in sustaining the preaching of the gospel of Christ
in this interesting field of labour. In compliance with the
instruction of the Board, I shall lay before you the necessary
information, together with the resolution unanimously adopt-
ed by the church, which is as follows:

Resolved that, in the estimation of this church, there is in
our beloved brother, Elder Ezra Fisher, such talent, prud-
ence and deep interest exhibited in the cause of Christ as
insures our entire confidence and will result, under divine
providence, in greatly advancing the cause of our Redeemer,
and, that in order to sustain and continue his usefulness in
Bloomington and vicinity, we do respectfully solicit the

no CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Board of Home Missions of the City of New York to render
us such assistance as they deem wise and in their power
and as will enable us to make up the deficiency requisite to
his support.

The location of Bloomington, situated on the Mississippi
River, is, no doubt, destined to become a large and import-
ant place. It is acknowledged to have many advantages in
point of commerce over most of the towns of the Territory,
it being the only landing for Iowa City*^ and a large section
of fertile country now rapidly improving and increasing in
population. Our town now numbers between eight and nine
hundred and is rapidly increasing. The people are generally
emigrants of the highest intelligence and refinement from the
eastern states. Perhaps we cannot give you a better demon-
stration of this fact than to inform you that already seven
different churches in this yet limited population have lifted
up their standards and each pays from two to three hundred
dollars per year to sustain preaching twice a month, and that
some are now erecting places of worship.

The Baptist church is composed at present 6i 10 members ;
has only been in existence about six months. Three more
are waiting with letters to join at the next regular meeting,
making in all 13, and, in addition to these, there are about 20
more professing Baptists in the town and vicinity wdio mani-
fest a disposition to be of our number as soon as circum-
stances will permit.

Judging from the number, about two hundred, which at-
tend at our place of worship, there is as large a number at-
tached to our church as any other. This may however be
owing to the fact of our being blessed with a very devoted
and acceptable pastor. We have rented for the present a
large public lecture room for meetings, and have agreed to
pay our pastor. Rev. Ezra Fisher, who is now located in the
town, $200 per year to preach to us twice each month. He

45 Iowa City was the capital of Iowa from 1839 to 1857 — Ency. Brit.. 11th ed.,
XIV:736.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. Ill

may possibly (but barely possible) make up for the balance
of the time he has in the adjoining country another $100
more. He is about 42 years of age, has a wife and three chil-
dren dependent on him for support and it will require much
prudence for him to be sustained on $450 per year, so that
the least aid required will be $100. Mr. Fisher is a regularly
ordained minister of the Baptist denomination and completed
his theological studies at Newton, Mass. It is desirable
that his salary should commence on receipt of this commu-
nication.

My limits of brevity, already transcended, will not admit
of my enlarging as to the utility and importance of sustain-
ing Baptist influence in this section of the country ; suffice
it to say, though there is much to make us glad, yet there
is much moral death in our midst and many valuable souls
are perishing for lack of knowledge.

Dear brethren, may the great Head of the church direct
you in wisdom and bless both you and us in our feeble efforts
to advance the cause of our blessed Redeemer, is our sincere
prayer.

Done by order and in behalf of the First Baptist Church
of Bloomington, the 8th day of May, 1842.

A. L. BEATTY, Ch. Clk.

Iowa City, June 5th, "42.
Dear Bro. Hill.:

This is to inform you that a General Ass. has been form-
ed in this Territory auxiliary to the Am. Bap. Home Society
and, as the Sec. of the Executive Board is absent, it devolves
upon me to say to you that we have taken up the case of
Eld. Fisher of Bloomington and have deemed it expedient to
request of you one hundred dollars to aid the Bloomington
church in his support.

Respectfully yours,

W. B. MOREY,
Chairman of the Ex. Board.
Bloomington, June 8th, 1842.

112 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

Dear Br. Hill:

I just take my pen to say that the probability is that I shall
not receive more than forty or fifty dollars the ensuing year
for my services in the Territory, beyond what I receive in
this place, yet, in view of the wants of the Valley. I do not
ask the Board to give me more than $100 the ensuing year.
I shall forward my report in a few days.

EZRA FISHER.

Iowa Territory, Bloomington [Muscatine], June 10, 1842.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Socy.
Dear Br.:

By the providence of our Lord, I am called upon to make
my last quarterly report of my labours in the service of the
Home Mission Society. My labours during the past quarter
have been devoted to Bloomington, Muscatine County, half
the time, and to Parkhurst, Scott County, one-fourth of the
time, with occasional visits to Davenport, Scott Co., Hickory
Grove, Scott Co., Salem, ten miles above Bloomington, Mus-
catine Co., and Rochester, Cedar Co., on Cedar River, 20
miles from this place. I spent one week in Iowa City and
on my way to and from the place, where I assisted in the or-
ganization of a General Association for the Territory, auxil-
iary to the A. B. H. M. Socy. A truly Christian spirit per-
vaded all the meetings.

I have preached thirty sermons, delivered eight addresses,
attended eleven weekly prayer meetings, five church cove-
nant metings, one church meeting for business in Daven-
port, have ridden 372 miles to appointments and have de-
voted all my time to the ministry, except some five or six
days.

I cannot report one case of hopeful conversions, although
there appears rather an increase of attention to the subject
of religion in this place and through this part of the Terri-
tory.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 113

I have baptized none; have received five i^y letter to the
church in this place. I have made seventy-two religious
visits to families and individuals. We have not yet establish-
ed the monthly concert in this place, but intend to soon. I
have visited but one school during the quarter. I have re-
ceived no signatures to the temperance pledge, but have at-
tended four meetings and participated in the deliberations
and committees for the furtherance of that cause, which is
on the advance. . . .

On the subject of Missions, Bible Tracts and Education,
the people cherish correct views, but as yet, having every-
thing to do and just getting organized and the churches be-
ing but little handfuls and poor, we have not yet made a pub-
lic call, but soon calculate to introduce the subject of taking
up quarterly collections, at which time the claims of some
one of the great benevolent enterprises shall be presented
to the public mind.

I have received about $47 toward my support the past quar-
ter. Have received nothing from auxiliary societies. We
have but one Sunday school connected with my congrega-
tions, and that a union school in this place. We have no
Bible class, but contemplate making an effort soon for that
object.

Our people contemplate making an eft'ort to erect a house
of worship the ensuing summer and fall, but are altogether
unable without the liberal aid of the citizens and friends. . . .
The church at Davenport are nearly through their series of
difficulties and are about building a house ; have a good lot
donated. We are pleased with Br. Brown, and hope the door
may be effectually opened for him to preach at least half the
time at Davenport. He will preach there on the fourth Sab.
of the present month. Lynn Co. is an interesting field, as
well as Cedar, but is quite remote from the field of any Bap-
tist preacher. There are about 6.000 souls in these two coun-
ties.

114 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

If the Board reappoint me to this place and vicinity, I
shall probably spend a fourth of my time in Cedar County,
and occasionally extend my labours down the river towards
the mouth of the Iowa River between that and the Mississip-
pi till we have more labourers enter the field.

On the reception of this, you will please forward me a
draft for twenty-five dollars on your Treasurer, it being the
sum due me for the last quarter of the present year as re-
ported in this.

Yours in the service of our divine Master,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Bloomington.

N. B. — -I did not understand your change in making drafts
when I made my last till it was beyond my reach. I con-
sequently deferred answering yours, as it would make you an
additional charge in postage. I shall proceed to labour as
though in the service of the Board till I hear from you. For
the last three months I think I have had an increasing de-
sire to make the glory of God and the salvation of men the
ruling passion of my soul and have felt myself deeply hum-
bled at the thought that I have been instrumental of so little
good the past year and especially that so few souls have been
converted in Iowa Territory. I trust that some of your mis-
sionaries have resolved that the prayer of Habbakuk shall be
ours till the Lord revive his work with us.

Yours, E. F.

Bloomington [Muscatine], September 27, 1842.
To the Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. Hill:
I take my pen, neglected by reason of my absence on the
15th and since by the sickness of my family, to make my re-
port for the quarter ending the 15th of the present month.

Bloomington and Salem, Muscatine County, are the prin-
cipal places of my Sabbath labour. I have visited Rochester,
Cedar County, spent a Sabbath at Moscow, Cedar Co., twice,

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 115

and have visited Parkhurst, Scott County, speaking one Sab-
bath with the church at that place called Bath Church. The
church in Bloomington is the only one in this county or
Cedar.

This is my first quarter's report under the commission,
dated June 15th, which was duly received. I have laboured
twelve weeks the past quarter in my field. Have preached
28 sermons, attended six covenant meetings and two other
church_ meetings, ten prayer meetings, two temperance meet-
ings,"*^ a temperance celebration on the 4th of July, two
funerals, and ten other meetings, assisted in organizing a
county temperance society and travelled 406 miles. There
has been one hopeful conversion in my congregation. I have
received into Bloomington church four interesting members
by baptism and seven by letter. I have made one hundred
and three pastoral visits. We have commenced the monthly
concert in Bloomington the present month, hoping to be able
to sustain them. I have visited but one common school the
past quarter ; have obtained no signatures to the temperance
pledge. No young man within my field preparing for the
ministry. No churches constituted or minister ordained. We
have received nothing the past quarter for Missionary, Bible
Publication or Education Societies, but we have resolved to
take up a collection on the 2d Sab. of Oct. for foreign mis-
sions. Have received $30 in provisions, and, at the organiza-
tion of the association in Davenport on the 18th. a collection
of six dollars was taken up in aid of the Home Mission
cause, which I received and for convenience report it in this
quarter, although received since the 15th.

I have received nothing else from auxiliary societies. No
Bible class, but we have made some efforts for one. Three
Sunday schools connected with my field of labour, but only
one will continue in the winter. About 200 volumes, 14
teachers, 90 scholars, 8 teachers connected with Baptist fami-

46 Rev. Jonathan Going, the first corresponding secretary of the B. H. M. S.,
was a pronounced temperance advocate, so, from the first, missionaries of the So-
ciety were active in temperance work. — Bap. Home Missions in N. Am., 1832-1882,
p. 531.

116 CORRSPOXDEXCE OF THE

lies, 30 scholars. Not yet commenced a house of worship,
but have had three meetings on the subject. We fear that
another year will not find the work begun. We organized
an association, of seven churches north of the Iowa River,
auxiliary to the General Association of Iowa Territory, and,
as soon as our minutes are struck olT, I will forward you a
copy. Our little church has increased from five to 23 since the
fourth Sabbath in October last.

The cause is generally advancing in all this region, al-
though we have been blessed with no general revival. I feel
more and more my dependence on God to bless, or all is un-
availing in our labours.

Please forward me a draft for nineteen dollars, the sum
due me for the last quarter's services, now reported, after
deducting the six dollars received from the collection taken at
the Davenport Association before named.
I remain,

Your brother and fellow laborer in the vineyard of
our blessed Lord,

EZRA FISHER.
Missionary at Bloomington, I. T.

Iowa Ter., Bloomington [Muscatine], Dec. 21, 1842.
Dear Br. Hill.:

I sit down to make a report of my labours for the quarter
ending the fifteenth of the present month. Were it not for
the fact that the providences of God are beyond our control,
I should have occasion to confess with shame that I have
been squandering our Master's time. But afflictions in my
family and in the families of our little church in Blooming-
ton have prevented my doing much the past quarter. Suffice
it to say that since the 12th of last Aug., till within the last
week, we have not had a day but we have had at least one in
the family confined to the bed and, at this time, a little
daughter of 3i/^ years requires the attention of one all the
time, having had a finger mashed in the door in Aug. and

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 117

inflammation ensuing in Sept. ; in Oct. she lost the first
joint by mortification and in Nov. it again inflamed and she
lost the second joint and vas brought almost to the grave
with that and the whooping-cough. On Oct. 27th we lost an
infant of two months with the whooping-cough. In addition
to this, several of our members' families were so sick that
little could be done by way of promoting the general ob-
jects of the Redeemer's kingdom, and, besides this, I com-
menced building a small house last June and hoped to be
able to occupy it in the fall without performing any labour
of consequence on it myself, but my help sickened and threw
us so late that I have been obliged to spend some time in la-
bour to enable us to stop our rent, which was not till the 14th
of the present month. If I had been able to raise money to
meet our rent, I should not have given my hands to labour,
but, after consulting the brethren and commending my case
to our heavenly Father, I have done what I have, and I sup-
pose your Board and our patrons would justify me, if you
felt all the privations of a new country which we are feeling
in Iowa at this time. But, by the grace of God, we hope to
be disincumbered for the future. Bloomington and Salem in
Muscatine County and Parkhurst, Scott County, comprise my
field of labour for the past quarter. I statedly supply the
two former places, but there is no church in Salem, only a
few members ununited with any church.

I have performed the amount of three or four weeks' la-
bor about my house ; the rest of the time, except for sickness,
has been devoted to the work.

Preached 22 sermons. I know of no cases of hopeful con-
version within my field. Baptized none, attended two con-
ference and eight prayer meetings; travelled 212 miles; have
received none by letter the past quarter. Monthly concert
has been observed at Bloomington, but sickness has com-
pelled us to discontinue it ; expect to revive it next month.
.... Sickness prevented organizing a church in Marion,
Lynn Co. Nothing done for the benevolent objects, save $6

118 CORRESPOXDEN'CE OF THE

collected for the cause of home missions at the organization
of the Davenport Association reported last quarter. Receiv^-
ed $50 of my salary. No Bible class and at present but one
Sunday school ; 30 scholars, 7 teachers, three teachers and
about 10 children among Baptist families, 150 volumes in the
library. No meeting-house commenced. If, under the cir-
cumstances, your Board can allow me twenty-five dollars for
the past quarter's services, you will please forward me the
draft to that amount and it will relieve me from the debts
unavoidably contracted to render my family even comfort-
able, and it will be gratefully received. Your Board may
rest assured that it is my daily prayer that I may be enabled
to devote my whole time and talents to the gospel ministry,
and this to me is more than when the wine and the oil in-
crease.

I subscribe myself yours in the love of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.

Bloomington [Muscatine], Iowa Ter., Jan. 7. 1843.
Dear Br. Hill.:

The Roman Catholics . . . are about erecting large houses
of worship in Burlington, Bloomington, Davenport and Iowa
City, while Dubuque is the residence of the Bishop ;'*'' each
of the above-named places has a Roman priest.

We have in Bloomington an Episcopal priest, a Presby-
terian minister, and a large Methodist class, with preach-
ing half the time, and a congregation of Universalists with
preaching once a month. We greatly need Baptist preaching
in this place once each Sabbath at least, but as yet we have
no place of worship. All our members are poor. Unless
we can get up a small house the ensuing summer, to hu-
man appearance, we must fall in the rear. God knows, and
will deliver his alTlicted ones. With three or four hundred
dollars beyond our abilities, we might get up a neat little

47 The first Catholic church building in Iowa was built at Dubuque in 1836.
The first Bishop of Dubuque was consecrated in 1837. The city was made the seat
of an archbishop in 1893. — Catholic Encyclopaedia, V'III:95.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 119

house. Thankless as the business may be, must we fail for
the want of that sum? I have no desire to visit the East on
a message like this, but I do desire a house for the worship
of God, our Saviour, in B., where His ordinances and doc-
trines may be maintained in their original simplicity and
purity.

Yours,

E. FISHER.

Iowa Territory, Bloomington [Muscatine], March 15, 1843.
Corresponding Secretary of the A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.

Dear Br. :
It becomes my duty to make a report of my labors for the
third quarter ending this day, the year commencing June 15,
1842. I have devoted all the time to the ministry as far as
my health and the extremely severe winter would admit. I
have failed entirely of reaching one appointment on the Sab-
bath by reason of a severe storm, the thermometer ranging
about 12 degrees below zero, and the appointment being in
an open prairie 12 miles distant. My lungs have been sore
most of the time during the last quarter so that I have sel-
dom preached more than once on the Sabbath.-*^ I have
preached 17 sermons; no addresses; attended 4 covenant meet-
ings; 11 weekly prayer meetings; traveled 246 miles. No
hopeful conversions ; cause of religion and temperance low
in B. ; yet our church enjoys a devotional frame of mind. . . .
We have received 5 by letter and 2 to be under our watch-
care. Have made more than 50 pastoral visits. Monthly con-
cert is attended at but one place in B. I have visited and ad-
dressed three common schools. Obtained but five or six signa-
tures to the temperance pledge. . . . We have one licentiate
preacher in our church, a good deacon and a valuable brother.
.... Such is the extremely embarrassing circumstance of oui
feeble church that as yet we have done nothing for either ot
the benevolent institutions, although there is a willingness

48 It will be recalled that the author's death was caused by pneumonia. Occa-
sional references to sore lungs show a tendency in that direction.

120 CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE

and a promise to soon. No auxiliary society has aided me the
past quarter. No Bible class; one S. school of 7 teachers, 4
Baptist, and about 45 scholars, 8 of whom are Baptists. No
effort to build a house. I have received about $70 for my sup-
port, mostly in produce.

The Church has invited me to continue with them the
present calendar year. . . . and made an effort to raise
$200 in produce, but will not be able to raise more than
about $100, should I stay.

In view of the irritable state of my lungs every winter
and of the soft and salubrious climate of Oregon Ter. and
the amount of emigration annually passing over the Rocky
Mountains, we are contemplating removing to the said
Territory next year, if Providence smiles and we can raise
the means."*^ As we have been almost eleven years in this
Valley, we wish to visit our friends in New York, Vermont
and Massachusetts before we make this removal. Our rea-
sons are : First, the benefit of my lungs and health of my
family. Second, it will probably be more dififiicult to per-
suade men to go to Oregon than to Iowa, especially at first,
while the demands will be greater in three years. We hear
of companies forming in various portions of our country
to go out the present year and numbers of them are Bap-
tists. Third, I have been a pioneer for more than ten years
and have no desire ever to settle over a church in the
old states, while the field is the world in the new and rising
portions of our country. We shall probably leave this place
as soon as the first of June for New York, and I wish, by
the grace of God. to devote as much of my time to the ser-
vice of the Messiah's Kingdom as I can during my journey
with my family. . . . Our Board will meet in this place

49 The first important immigration to Oregon was in 1842 wlien about one
hundred accompanied Elijah White, newly appointed Indian agent of the United
States, on his return to Oregon. This was merely the advance guard of an immi-
gration of about a thousand in 1843. The immigrants of this year came largely
from Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. The interest of
Ezra Fisher in Oregon probably dates from the glowing rei>orts of the country
which were circulating all through the west in the winter of 1842-4. — See Bancroft,
Hist, of Oregon, Vol. I, passim.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 121

next week, and I shall present my views to them for consid-
eration and counsel.

Please send me a draft of twenty-five dollars as soon as
convenient, as I am owing for rents which were due last
November and we cannot raise a dollar in money on my last
year's subscription.

All which is submitted.

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.

Granville, Putnam County, Illinois, June 1st, 18^3.
To the Corresponding Secretary of the American Baptist

Home Mission Society:
Dear Br. Hill:

I take my pen to make a report of my services in Bloom-
ington, Iowa, and vicinity, for the part of the quarter com-
mencing March 15th and ending May the 23d.

According to my best calculation I have laboured eight
weeks in the service of the Society and the church at Bloom-
ington and vicinity.

I have preached 15 sermons, delivered one address on the
subject of Bible instruction . . . Traveled one hundred
and five miles to and from appointments. . . .Have visit-
ed and assisted in the revival in Davenport two days.
Our church has been peculiarly oppressed with pecuniary
embarrassments and has paid nothing for any of the benevo-
lent objects, but has paid about thirty dollars for my salary.
I have received nothing from auxiliary societies.
You will please forward me a draft for fifteen dollars to
Clinton Post Oflfice, Oneida Co., New York, in the care of
Timothy Taft, and I shall receive it on my arrival.

I feel convinced that I have not rendered the amount of
profitable service directly to the cause of Bloomington that
I should, had not the subject of the Oregon enterprise agi-
tated my mind and called forth my anxious thoughts, and I
trust humble prayers. As it relates to that subject, I have

122 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

endeavored to look at the privations and difficulties as well
as to the beauties of nature,^" and I can say with some de-
gree of confidence that I desire to set aside all considera-
tions but the will of God and the well being of man in this
and all my undertakings. In considering the path of duty
I see no field of labor which I can contemplate with so much
satisfaction, or concerning which I have so little doubt of
duty as an attempt to lay the foundation for an interest in
Oregon. Our country-men will go, and they will go, too,
without the Bible and the Sabbath, unless these are carried
by the good and self-denying. Hundreds are crossing the
mountains this year.^^ Our Government is sending out a
scientific corps^^ of 50 mounted men to explore the country
and, if possible, to return as soon as the early part of the
next session of Congress. I am also informed that an Eng-
lish nobleman is hiring men and purchasing wagons and
mules in St. Louis for an exploring expedition to that coun-
try, ostensibly a private expedition. . . .

We shall probably be at Buffalo as soon as the ninth of
July, perhaps the second. May God direct.

I subscribe myself your unworthy brother in Christ,

EZRA FISHER. Missionary.

N. B. — The church in Bloomington will apply to the Gen-
eral Association to render them some temporary aid, but
have not determined as yet to ask for assistance from your
Board. Some two or three families will probably go with
me to Oregon, if I am preserved and am permitted to go.

50 This well reflects the information concerning Oregon which was current in
the west at the time this was written. No large immigration had yet gotten into
Oregon with wagons, and the journey was an extremely arduous and dangerous one
of about six months. On the other hand, reports circulated by travelers and mis-
sionaries from the country, and by the debates in Congress of the past few win-
ters, pictured Oregon as an earthly paradise. — Bancroft, Hist, of Oregon, Vol. I,
passim.

51 The exact number of the immigration of 1843 is uncertain. Tt is variously
estimated from 500 to 1000. — Bancroft, Hist, of Oregon, 1 : 395 ft.

52 The United States Government expedition was that headed by J. C. Fremont.
It traveled just behind the immigrants as far as Soda Springs on the Bear River,
and after a detour of the Great Salt Lake, arrived at The Dalles, Oregon, in No-
vember. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. I: 420; C. A. Snowden, Hist, of Wash. II: 247.
The English nobleman was Sir William Stewart, who was hunting in the Rocky
Mountains with William Sublette, Overton Johnson and Wm. H. Winter of the
immigration of 1843. Route across the Rocky Mountains, etc., reprinted in the
Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society, VII: 62 fif. ; the reference is on page 68.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 123

Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 18th, 1843.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. S.
Beloved Br. :

It is with emotions of gratitude to our divine Master for
the great kindness you have manifested to me in all your
correspondence, and especially since our personal acquaint-
ance, that I address you at this time. . . . May Heaven
reward you, if indeed I am a disciple of Christ. I was driv-
en to fear that the amount for my salary in Oregon would
require my stay in this state so long that I should be driven
to cross the wide prairies of the West with my young family
in the dead of winter or fail of being ready to leave with
the caravan in the spring. I also expected to be compelled
to leave the ministry in part to teach through the interven-
ing time, but, by your suggestion, cheerfully take this op-
portunity to request the Board through you to appoint me
as one of their missionaries for the term of six months in
Iowa, as I desire to devote that amount of time to preach-
ing the gospel in that Ter. I shall probably find an import-
ant field of labor on the Mississippi River. I think it will re-
quire one hundred and fifty dollars to barely sustain my
family six months, but think, with fifty dollars from your
Board, I can live from the people. I have a wife and four
children. 53 Should your Board think fit to make the ap-
pointment, you will please forward it to Br. Charles E.
Brown, Davenport, Cor. Sec. of Iowa Bapt. Gen. Associa-
tion.

I did not find the instructions to applicants for appoint-
ment, as your annual report is packed up in my boxes. I
thought perhaps your Board would dispense with all the
formality ordinarily requisite, as I intend going directly to
Davenport and acting in concert with the Board of the Iowa
Baptist General Association, located in that place.

Yours in grateful remembrance,
EZRA FISHER.

53 The four children were Lucy Jane Gray (Latourette), Timothy Taft, Ann
Eliza (Latourette) and Sarah Josephine (Henderson).

124 CORRESPOXDEXXE OF THE

Davenport, Scott Co.. Iowa Ter., Jan. 22, 1844.
Dear Br. Hill:

We arrived in this place on the 15th of December, and
have delayed writing on account of the unfavorable reports
respecting the road to Oregon, hoping to be able before this
to learn something more satisfactory on the subject. But
as yet we are involved in uncertainty. Five men from the
emigrants' company returned, after they had proceeded as
far as Fort Hall, who stated that the company were obliged
to leave all their wagons and take the pack horses through
the mountains a distance of 600 miles. 5"* We have learned
too by ten of Lieut. Fremont's men who returned that the
company of emigrants were reduced to the necessity of eat-
ing horse flesh for meat.

We hope to learn more definitely and positively when
Lieut. Fremont returns, which will probably be in two or
three weeks. Should we learn that the distance from Fort
Hall to the mouth of the Willamette is impassable by
wagons, we feel that it will be more than our young family
can encounter to take pack horses and provisions and neces-
sary cooking utensils and clothing and bedding, and thus ar-
rayed attempt to urge ovir way through the defiles of the
mountains. We learn that a very large company from Piatt
County, Missouri, ^^ are making arrangements to emigrate
next spring for Oregon, some from this Territory and some
from 111. A Mr. Flint from ^^lissouri writes that probably
the emigrating camp will consist of 3000 men. We feel
ourselves thrown into an uncomfortable suspense on the
subject, but it is all right. Our disappointment was great.
It is distressing to abandon the enterprise, and the thought
of presumptuously hazarding the lives of my family is equally
distressing, especially while so wide a door is open in this
wide vallev. Our friends here will none of them advise to

54 The report was false. The Oregon party took their wagons with them.
The California party left their wagons and went thence on horses. Rancroft, Hist,
of Ore. I : 399. 400.

55 Mr. George H. Himes, .\ssistant Secretary of the Oregon Historical Society,
says that in his researches he has found that some went in this year from Piatt
County. See also note 67.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 125

go, unless we receive more favorable reports of the way.
Yet I have some reason to suspect them of selfishness. We
trust the Lord will soon remove our doubts. I can truly
say my mind is strongly inclined to preach the g(~)spel in
Oregon.

We came all the way (from New York) with oin- own
conveyance, which was the cause of our reaching Iowa so
late. I commenced my labours immediately on our arrival,
and preach part of the time in this place and Rock Island,
Illinois, and the remainder of the time in the surrounding
country, where we hope there will be a church constituted
before long.

The church at Rock Island appear solicitous to obtain my
services the ensuing year, provided we do not cross the
Rocky Mountains, and it may be my duty to comply with
their request, yet the irritable state of my lungs admonishes
me of the importance of finding a milder climate, and, as
we are now broken up, we feel inclined to get as far south
as we can, and be useful in a free state, if we shall find the
way to Oregon closed. I shall write you immediately on
learning the result of Lieut. Fremont's expedition. I sub-
scribe mvself vour brother in Christ,

EZRA FISHER.

Davenport, Iowa Territory, March 15. 1844.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill.
Dear Br.:

The time has arrived when it becomes my duty to make
my first quarter's report under the appointment made Nov.
1, 1843. I have preached about one-fourth of my time in
this place, part of the time at the mouth of Pine creek.
Muscatine County, one Sabbath in Bloomington, a part of
my time in Hickory Grove and Attens Grove. Lott County.
one Sa'bbath at Cordova. ^^^ Rock Island Cour.ty. 111., and the
remainder of the time at Rock Island, directly across the
river from this place.

56 Cordova is a small town about twenty miles north and east of Rock Island.

126 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Br. Seley organized the church at Cordova last winter ; the
church in this place Br. Brown supported half the time ; the
church at Bloomington I formerly supplied ; the church at
Rock Island has formerly had the fruit of Father Gillett's
labors. All belong to Davenport Association. ... I have
labored the whole time in the field, have preached 34 ser-
mons, delivered one temperance address, attended 24 other
sermons in protracted meetings ; 18 prayer meetings ; 6
church meetings ; visited one common day school.^'' 1 Sab-
bath school four times and addressed them each time, and
traveled 428 miles. Eleven or twelve hopeful conversions
have occurred in the field of my labors, all but one in Rock
Island, in connection with a series of meetings carried on by
Br. Thomas Powell and myself.

I have baptised 8 and received one by letter into Rock
Island church. I have made 55 pastoral visits. No monthly
concerts sustained at present. Have obtained three signa-
tures to tlie temperance pledge. . . . Received $22 from
the people towards my support. Nothing paid for the vari-
ous benevolent societies connected with our denomination.

No auxiliary society has contributed for my support. One
Sunday school at Rock Island, 6 teachers, about 25 scholars,
and about 50 volumes in the library. No meeting house
commenced.

In consequence of the great uncertainty of being able to
reach the American settlements in Oregon by wagons, the
great destitution of ministerial labors in all this region,
especially on the Upper Mississippi, the unsettled condition
of Oregon and the late Indian depredations at the Walla
Walla Mission station under the charge of Dr. Whitman. -^^
we have concluded to defer going west this spring; yet not

57 The public school system in the Mississippi Valley began early. In Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois, there were enacted in the twenties school laws providing for
imblic common school instruction. In Iowa it came some time later. E. O. Dexter,
A Hist, of Education in the United States, pp. 103-116.

58 This probably refers to the trouble with the Indians in tlie late autumn of
1842. Mrs. Whitman was insulted during Dr. Whitman's absence in the East, and
fled to The Dalles. The mission mill at Waiilatpu, Whitman's station, was burned.
The news of this, exaggerated and misdated by rumor, seems to have reached Ezra
Fisher at this time.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 127

without much rekictance and I trust attempting faithfully
to commit our cause to Him whose we are and to whom we
owe everything. Should the door be open so that duty shall
appear plain, I now think I shall cheerfully undergo the
privations of removing across the desert mountains to the
Pacific Coast. May God direct and be it ours to obey.

By the invitation of the church at Rock Island, 111., and
bv the advice of all the brethren in this vicinity. I have
consented to take charge of that church and a small church
in Henry County, 12 miles east from that place, the com-
ing year. These churches will be able to give us about two-
thirds of a support, and, by the advice of the members of
the Board of the Iowa Baptist Gen. Association and Br.
Powell, we shall apply to your Board for a reappointment
when my present appointment expires.

In view of all the circumstances, should your Board cen-
sure the course which we have pursued respecting the Ore-
gon mission, you will have the faithfulness to administer af-
fectionate reproof as becomes the responsible station you
occupy. The church in Rock Island formed themselves
into a Sabbath school society on the 5th of March and re-
solved to make application to the American Sunday School
Union for an appropriation of S. S. books from the special
appropriation made for destitute Sunday schools in the
Valley of the Mississippi. . . .

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Rock Island, 111., and vicinity.

N. B. — Br. Brown will probably move to Parkhurst in a
few days. Br. Seley has gone to Ohio and Kentucky on a
meeting house begging for Bloomington. Br. Carpenter
leaves Dubuque for Vt. in a few days — Burlington. FUooni-
ington, Davenport and Dubuque are each in great want of a
Baptist minister and I suppose Galena"^^ will be on the same
list in a few months.

59 Galena was an important center in tlie lead-mining district. It was laid out
in 1827 and incorporated in 1839. Rv the census of 1850 it had a population of
6,004, but has since declined. .Am. Encyc, VII: 563.

128 CORRESPOXDE\'CE OF THE

O! I wish our wise men, and especially our Baptist minis-
ters who talk of sacrificing for Christ, could survey the al-
most unbroken destitution on the Mississippi from Quincy
to St. Anthony Falls^^ on both sides of the river, with all
our flourishing villages, till they would heed the voice of the
Spirit and separate at least a Paul and Barnabas for this
work. The calls are imperious.

Tell the brethren to take their latest maps of the western
states and look over the field by their fire sides and then
ask God, Who is to give all this people the bread of life?
The field is increasing in importance every day. Soon it
will go into other hands, and well it will be, if it goes not
into the hands of the Romans,^^ Yours,

E. F.

Rock Island, Rock Island Co., 111., April 27, 1844.
Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br.:

In behalf of the First Baptist Church in this place, and
the Baptist church called ]\Iount Pleasant,^- in Henry Coun-
ty, 12 miles southeast from this place, I am requested to
solicit your aid for the support of my family one year from
the time of the expiration of my present appointment. The
above named churches wish me to devote my time entirely
to the cause of Christ within their bounds and the imme-
diate vicinity. My post office address is Rock Island, Rock
Island County, 111. Rock Island is situated at the foot of
the Upper Rapids on the east shore of the Mississippi River;
contains about 1200 inhabitants. Three miles above is a
rapidly rising village of something like 300 souls, where al-

60 St. Anthony's Falls are, of course, the water power which gave rise to
Minneapolis. There was but the barest beginning of a settlement at this time in
the vicinity of the present Minneapolis and St. Paul.

61 The extension of Roman Catholic work among the whites in the Upper
Mississippi Valley first became prominent in the thirties. In 1841 the chapel giving
the name to St. Paul, Minnesota, was built. A large German Catholic immigration
into Illinois from 1841 on gave the church there an impetus. Cath. Encyc, under
Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin.

62 This Mount Pleasant church was apljarently in a rural neighborhood. No
town of that name exists.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 129

most any amount of water power may be employed. Al-
ready two saws and two runs of stones are employed and
four more stones are to go into operation next fall. Three
miles south of this on Rock River another town is laid off
at the foot of the falls of Rock River; they are just com-
mencing to build at that place and six runs of stones will
be put in operation next fall.^^ It is said that water power
may be employed in these two places enough to drive 700 or
1000 runs of stones the entire year. The country in the
vicinity is becoming thickly populated for a new country.
The number of communicants in the church in Rock Island
is forty-three; and the average number of attendants at
public worship is about sixty. The number of my family
is six. It is desira'ble that my reappointment should com-
mence at the expiration of the present appointment. Mount
Pleasant church numbers communicants and probably about
fifty will be the average number of attendants. . . . We
have other places of preaching through the week. The
amount of salary necessary for the support of my family
would not fall much short of four hundred dollars. The
church in Rock Island will pledge one hundred and seventy-
five dollars, and the Mount Pleasant church fifty dollars.
If your Board will appropriate one hundred dollars to my
support, I will try and supply the remaining deficiencies.

Rock Island is the seat of justice for the county and I am
no enthusiast when I say it is destined in less than twenty
years to be second to no other town on this river in Illi-
nois.^^ The water power will eventually line the whole bank
of the river with mills from Molein [Moline] to this place,
a distance of three miles, and also the entire east shore of
the Island itself the same distance, which terminates oppo-
site the upper part of this town, and, if necessary, half the
water of the Mississippi may be employed in driving ma-
chinery at a comparatively small expense. No other Bap-

63 This village is the present Moline. The village south of Rock Island, on
Rock River, is the present Milan.

64 If the author includes Moline (the author's Molein) with Rock Island, this
prophecy was fulfilled.

130 CORRESPONDEXCE OF THE

tist church in the place. The other churches are a large
Methodist church and a pretty able Presbyterian church for
a new country.

The surrounding country along the river and for ten or
twelve miles back is capable of sustaining a dense popula-
tion, being more than ordinarily well supplied with timber,
abounding in coal of a good quality, and is fast settling with
eastern emigrants.

We hope to sustain three Sabbath schools the present
summer in connection with these churches. In behalf of
the above named churches.

EZRA FISHER,

Pastor.

The First Baptist Church in Rock Island, county of Rock
Island, and the Baptist Church at Mount Pleasant. Henry
Co., concur in the foregoing application to the Executive
Committee of the American Baptist Home Mission Society,
to appoint Elder Ezra Fisher, as their Missionary.
Rock Island &
Mt. Pleasant, 111.
May 3, 1844.

HARMAN G. REYNOLDS.

NATHAN W. WASHBURN.
Joint Committee of said Churches.

The Executive Board of the Baptist Con. of Iowa concur
in the above and recommend the reappointment of Br.
Fisher and the desired appropriation.

C. E. BROWN.

Cor. Sec.

Rock Island. Rock Island County, 111.. June 15. 1844.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. :

I now proceed to make my report for the second and last
quarter under the appointment Nov. 1, 1843.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 131

I have labored the whole time in my appropriate field of
labor except 9 days in which I was absent on private busi-
ness and during- that time I spent most of the time as profit-
ably to the cause of Christ as I should have done in the field,
being absent from none of my Sabbath appointments. It is
with your Board to judge of the propriety of making a pro-
portionate deduction from the sum appropriated.

I have preached 35 sermons during the quarter, delivered
one temperance address, attended 24 weekly prayer meet-
ings, 15 church and conference meetings and traveled 321
miles to and from my appointments. . . . Baptised one
and received three by letter into the churches under my
charge.

Have made 40 pastoral visits. We have no monthly con-
cert yet established, but sustain two weekly prayer meetings
in Rock Island churches. . . . Assisted in the examina-
tion of Br. Robb, at Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa, for ordi-
nation at the meeting of the Iowa Baptist Convention. The
church at Rock Island paid $1 for the Home Missionary
Society; nothing for the other benevolent societies. Have
raised about five dollars for Sabbath school library and I
have received about $42 of my salary the past quarter. Mt.
Pleasant church have pledged $8 for Home Missions, to be
paid next fall. I have received nothing towards my salary
from any auxiliary society.

We have organized a Bible class of 12 scholars. We
have two Sunday schools with our people, 12 teachers, about
50 scholars, and about 100 volumes in the library. We have
bought at auction a mechanic's lien on a brick house 20 feet
by 40, with the roof on and doors in, secured most of the
company's rights to the house and lot and expect to secure
the rest and fit it up as a place of worship during the com-
ing year.

I attended the Iowa Baptist Convention with which our
church cooperate. Session harmonious and deeply interest-
ing to us in this new country. Collections were taken up in

132 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

aid of the Home and Foreign Missions and American and
Foreign Bible Societies, in all amounting to $21.

All which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

P. S. — I still feel impressed with the importance of es-
tablishing a mission in Oregon and, should the God of mis-
sions spare our lives and give us health and we learn that
the way is practicable with wagons as far as the Walla
Walla, we hope to be ready to go out next spring, if we can
have assurance of being sustained till churches can be
raised up to support the gospel in that new territory. Our
journey last year, together with the expenses of the family
for the present year, strongly reminds me that $300 will be
less than will sustain my family a year, should my services
commence at the time of our departure from this place.
Br. Johnson^'' and myself have had some conversation with
Br. Brabrook, the Foreign Mission agent for this state and
Missouri, and he thinks the mission would appropriately
come under the cognizance of the F. Mission Society, as it
would tend to facilitate the establishment of an Indian mis-
sion west of the mountains. It matters but little to us with
which Board we stand connected, provided we are enabled
to devote ourselves entirely to the work of the ministry and
not leave our families to suffer. I greatly desire that Br.
Johnson may be appointed and immediately encouraged to
go. I know of no man in the West I would prefer to ac-
company me, should it please the Lord to open the way for
me. The undertaking is great and we greath^ need more
than one, that, in the case of death, the work might not be
entirely suspended, the labor, money and time lost. I have
just learned that the company going this year would prob-
ably be about fifteen hundred. Please write me the wishes
of the Board. Yours,

E. F.

65 Rev. Hezckiah Johnson, to whom frequent reference is made in the letters
from now on, was born in Maryland in 1799. He moved to Ohio in 1816. and was
ordained there in 1827. He moved to Iowa in 1838. In 1845 he went to Oregon
as the author records. He died in Oregon in 1866. C. H. Mattoon, Bap. Annals
of Oregon, 1 : 45.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER.. 133

Rock Island, 111., Aug. 29. "44.
Dear Br. Hill:

Through the appointment of the Iowa Baptist Convention,
at this late date I proceed to give you a brief outline of the
wants of the Baptists in this growing Territory. ... At
this time the population of this Territory is but a fraction
less than 90,000^^ souls, occupying a region of country about
120 miles from east to west, and from the mouth of the
Des Moines to Prairedes Chien [Prairie du Chien], and soon
the entire territory from the Mississippi to the Missouri will
give place to civilization. Lee County contains 9900 souls,
several flourishing villages on the rivers, two churches, and
four preachers who work on their farms. Des Moines has
9109 souls ; five or six openings for Baptist preaching. Burl-
ington, w^ith a population of 2000 souls and about 15 Bap-
tist members, is wholly neglected. A Baptist church might
here be easily collected. Louisa Co., 3238 souls, one church
and one Baptist minister. Van Buren Co., 9,019; facilities
for agriculture and manufactories are very great ; at present
two Baptist ministers. Keosauqua, an important point, has
a church greatly needing a minister, and the ministers in
this county have to spend a portion of their time in other
counties. Henry County contains 6,017 souls. Elder Burnet
has organized a church in the county seat in the midst of
about 700 souls and preaches half of his time with this
church. Most of this county is destitute of Baptist preach-
ing. Jefferson County contains 5,694 souls almost entirely
destitute of Baptist preaching, except occasionally, and that
rarely, w'hen a Baptist minister travels that way and preaches
a sermon to a few scattered Baptists and others who gladly
hear the Word. Two small churches were recently organized
in this county, but the county town is entirely neglected by
our ministers. Baptists have joined other churches tem-
porarily (a bad business) because they have no Baptist

66 A census of 1836 showed the counties of Demoine and Dubuque, which
included the present Iowa, to have a population of 10521. In 1838 Iowa Territory-
had a population of 21,859. William Salter, Iowa, pp. 208, 230.

In 1840 its population was 43,112, and in 1850, 192,214. Am. Cyc. IX:333.

134 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

preaching. Washington Co. contains 3,120 souls. Br. ElHott
some time ago visited this county and baptized a few. A
church, in a somewhat flourishing condition at the county
seat, needs a pastor immediately. Muscatine County, 2,882
souls, with a church at Bloomington, is about to settle a
pastor. In this county are several interesting openings for
Baptist preaching. In the above named churches are two
licensed preachers who might be rendered quite useful as
preachers, but are obliged to pursue their ordinary occupa-
tions. Scott County has 2750 souls, two churches and one
minister. Davenport, without Baptist preaching, has a
population of 1000. Johnson and Cedar Counties, with a
population of 5166, and Linn with a population of 2643, have
four churches and a number of important settlements with
but one ordained minister. Clinton and Jackson Cos., with
a population of about 3000 souls and two organized churches
and probably another soon to be constituted at De Witt,
have no ordained minister and only the occasional labors of
Elder Brown. DuBuque has 4052 souls, one church at the
seat of justice and an ordained minister. The remaining
counties, together with the new purchase, 50 miles in width,
extending the entire length of the Ter. from north to south,
the southern portion of which is becoming thickly settled, for
a new country, with farms from 10 to 100 acres already un-
der cultivation, contain a population of at least 22,000 souls,
with but one Baptist minister and two small churches, al-
though there are a very considerable number of brethren and
sisters scattered through this region like sheep without a
shepherd, anxiously desiring and praying that God send
them the faithful missionary who will collect them into
churches and administer to them the ordinances of the
gospel. Now, dear brother, what does this Territory need?
Do we not need one man in each of these counties, at least?
Do we not need one minister in each of the important towns
. . . who can devote himself entirely to the work to
which the Head of the church has assigned him? Then, if
we could have a few of our ministering brethren who would

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 135

like to settle their rising families on farms, so that they
could devote a portion of their time to preaching the Word
and gathering up churches and at the same time bless Zion,
their own families and their own souls, the labors of such
brethren would be appreciated. Perhaps more than all, we
need wise lay brethren to move to our Territory for the sake
of doing good — men of prayer, good works, and faith too,
who are well established in the doctrines of the gospel, who
know well how to sympathize with the ministry and devise
and execute plans by which the ministry may be kept con-
stantly employed in their peculiar calling. Now let us ask
you, will our ministers and deacons and churches in the
older and more favored portions of our land compare our
destitution and prospects for usefulness with their own and
then in the fear of God ask what they can do for us? By
order of the convention.

EZRA FISHER,
Chairman of the Committee.
N. B. — I learn that 1500 souls have crossed the Rocky
Mountains this summer for Oregon.^''. Please let me know
if the Board will appoint Br. Johnson to go out with us
next spring? We have a promising young brother in this
place from Mass., by the name of Stone, whom I think this
church will invite to become their pastor when we leave.

Yours. E. F.

Rock Island, 111., Sept. 16. 1844.
Dear Br. Hill:

ij- ^ ^ jp ^ ^;

Should providence open the door, we expect to leave for
Oregon early next spring with the companies that will then
go out to Oregon and California. I should like to know
whether the Board will be willing that the appointment shall

67 McLoughlin placed the number of the immigrants of 1844 at 1,475. Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 1 :448.

George H. Himes, as a result of extensive researches, believes it to have
been only 600 or 700. British officers in Oregon in 1845-6 placed it at about 1000.
Documents Relative to Warre and Vavasour's Military Reconnoisance in Oregon,
1845-6, ed. by Joseph Schafer, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. X:U.

136 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

be so made that the services shall commence at the time of
our departure.

You will allow me to repeat the earnest request that Br.
Johnson be appointed, if practicable, to accompany me. My
views of the importance of the enterprise are in no way
diminished. A company will go to California next spring,^^
among which will be several valuable Baptist families, who
will settle with the companies that have gone before them
on the Sacramento River near San Francisco Bay. Is it
not time that the Baptists had two missionaries west of the
mountains to look after the rising interests on the Pacific?
(3ur health is tolerably good, but sickness is becoming more
frequent than it has been this season.

I shall forward my quarterly report by the next mail.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.
P. S. — Please write me soon and let me know the wishes
of the Board respecting the contemplated mission.

Yours, E. F.

Rock Island, 111., Sept. 17, 1844.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br.:

I proceed to make my report for the first quarter under the
appointment bearing date May 1st.

I have preached thirty-five sermons, attended sixteen pray-
er meetings, five conference meetings, seven covenant meet-
ings and traveled three hundred and twenty-five miles. We
have no conversions to record within our congregations.
Baptized none. Received three by letter. Have made
seventy-five pastoral visits and attended one funeral, a mem-

68 The first important overland immigration to California from the United
States was in 1841. Bancroft. Hist, of California IV :263.

The overland immigration of 1845, the preparations for which are here men-
tioned, numbered about 1500. Ibid. IV:571.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 137

ber of this church. Monthly concert is attended with this
church. Visited one common school. Obtained no signa-
tures to the temperance pledge. We have one young brother
fitting for college ; as yet he has not avowed his intentions
for the ministry. Organized no church. No minister or-
dained. Received sixty-five dollars toward my support
($65.00). Received nothing for any of the missionary,
educational or other benevolent societies. We have received
nothing from any of the auxiliary societies towards my sal-
ary. One Bible class, about 15 scholars. Three Sunday
schools, about 15 teachers, sixty-five scholars, and about 150
volumes in the libraries. Done nothing to the meeting house
since my last report.

The Campbellites are making great efforts in this place
and vicinity to draw off members of other denominations,
and. in view of all the circumstances, I have thought it my
duty to deliver a lecture each Sabbath on the doctrines and
ordinances of the gospel ; thus far they seem to awaken an
interest by confirming the brethren and eliciting the at-
tention of the community. Amid the flood of error with
which we are surrounded, we greatly need the truths of
God's Word exhibited in the spirit of meekness and zeal of
the primitive Christians. Truly we need the wisdom of
the serpent as well as the harmlessness of the dove. I have
never witnessed in any place in the valley so much deter-
mined opposition to the Baptists, as such, as in Rock Island
and vicinity. Perhaps I have never felt more forcibly the
thought that the gospel, and the whole gospel, is God's ap-
pointed means of accomplishing His purposes in bringing
sinners to repentance and establishing the churches in the
truth than during the past quarter.

In the midst of our labors and trials, I have one great

consolation, that I, in common with all the missionaries of

your Society, have the prayers of hundreds of thousands of

God's dear people. ,. - ,,

Yours respectfully.

EZRA FISHER, Missionarv.

138 CORRESPOXDEN'CE OF THE

I am waiting with some solicitude to hear from you rela-
tive to the subject of Oregon.

Cannot Br. Johnson be appointed to go out with us?

Yours, E. FISHER.

Rock Island, 111., Nov. 5th. 1844.
Rev. B. M. Hill.
Dear Br.:

Yours of Sept. 27th was duly received and I now take pen
to answer it, together with other communications which it
becomes my duty to make in the same sheet. The Board of
the Iowa Conv. understands the course your Board has pur-
sued in relation to Br. Seeley's tour last spring and are sat-
isfied, I believe.

On this subject of my going to Oregon next spring, I
would state that my views have in no way altered as regards
the importance of carrying the gospel of Christ there imme-
diately, and, unless some special providence intervenes, we
shall make our arrangements to leave this place some time in
the month of April next. The question whether the time of
our service shall commence when we leave this place or
when we arrive at the field of our future labor will not be
material with me farther than the settlement of the question
whether the amount will enable me to devote myself to the
work of the ministry unimpeded by secular labor. I trust
my ruling desire is to render the greatest possible service
to the cause of Christ ; I feel perfectly willing to refer that
matter to your Board.

I have never asked what were the views of the Board re-
specting the time of the transmission of the funds to me for
my services during the year after our arrival. I suppose,
however, that such would be the distance and difficulty of
regular communication from Oregon to N. York and so long
a time must necessarily intervene between the time of mak-
ing my reports and that of receiving funds in answer to said
reports, your Board would advance to me the amount agreed

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 139

upon for one year before taking our departure from this
place. Your Board may possibly know of some convenient
and safe way of transmitting drafts so that they may reach
us seasonably to prevent us from being reduced to suffer-
ings for the want of the common comforts of life.^^ I in-
tended to have laid that subject before you personally while
at Syracuse last fall, but it did not occur to my mind, when
I could have an interview with you. Br. John Peck how-
ever advised me personally. He thought in this case it would
be the pleasure of the Board to advance the year's salary be-
fore we left Iowa. I have just received a letter from Br.
Johnson still expressing a strong desire to accompany me
to Oregon, informing me that you say, if money can be
raised, he can be appointed to go with me, provided he can
receive a recommendation from the Executive Board of the
Iowa Baptist Convention. This being the ca'se, I laid the
subject before said Board on the first instant, and the Board
passed the following resolutions :

1st. Resolved that this Board cordially recommend Elder
Hezekiah Johnson as a most suitable man for the A. B. H.
M. Society's Board to appoint as a missionary to Oregon to
accompany Elder Ezra Fisher to that field next spring.

2d. Resolved, that the Secretary be instructed to accom-
pany this recommendation with a brief description of Elder
Johnson's qualifications for a missionary in a new country.

In complying with these instructions, I will simply state
that I am confident I give the sentiment of every faithful
Baptist in Iowa who knows him when I say that Br. John-
son's uniform ardent piety, his strong perceptive and compar-
ing powers, his originality of thought, his familiarity with
Bible doctrines, the facility with which he defends them,
exposes error in the spirit of the gospel, and the long experi-
ence he has had as a faithful pioneer of the West in planting
and fostering churches, as well as enduring hardships and
privations, render him eminently qualified for the work of

69 See note 72.

140 CORRESPONDE.XCE OF THE

a missionary in a new country, where error is rife and coun-
sellors are few. Without detraction from the merits of all
our worthy brethren, I speak the sentiments of all when I
say he is regarded as one of the few fathers of our denomi-
nation in Iowa. I have long known him and taken great
pleasure in his counsels. Your Board will not wonder then
when I repeat the earnest request that Br. Johnson may be
appointed to accompany me. Will you think of from 7000
to 10,000''° souls in Oregon, within two days' ride from the
mouth of the Willamette,'' speaking the English language,
and that number fast increasing from the western, the east-
ern and middle states, without a single Baptist preacher, and
will not your Board appoint this one more missionary, that
we may follow the example set by our blessed Saviour of
sending out His disciples by twos? If no other way can be
devised, will your Board not encourage Br. Johnson to cir-
culate in New England and raise the requisite funds during
the winter? God knows what is best, and, if my importunity
is too great, I know He will pardon and I trust you will do
the same.

I attended the Davenport Association the second week in
Oct. at Marion, the county seat of Lynn County, Iowa. The
session was harmonious and one of more than usual interest
and some tokens of divine favor were manifest. Collections
were taken in aid of home and foreign missions. W^e trust
a lasting blessing will follow. On Saturday before the fourth
Sab. in Oct., we organized a new association in this place,
known by the name of Rock Island Baptist Association, in-
cluding but four churches, but an extent of territory more
than 100 miles in length on the Mississippi.

70 This number was largely over-estimated. In his letter of Feb. 27, 1846,
written after he reached Oregon, the author places the population at five or six
thousand, and this was after the population had been doubled by the immigration of
1845. Deducting this, the population in 1844 would be between two and three
thousand. Hancroft places it at the latter figure. Hist of Oregon, 1:508. G. H.
Himes thinks it was 1,200 or 1,500. Lieut. Piel gave it as 3,000 before the coming
of the 1845 immigration, and Warre and Vavasour gave it as 6,000 after the immi-
gration came. See J. Schafer in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. X :53.

71 The origin and the original form of the name Willamette are obscure. G. H.
Himes finds the meaning of "Green Water," given it in two early, entirely inde-
pendent sources. If these sources are reliable, it is an Indian name and the present
spelling closely approximates the original sound. See also in the spelling: Bancroft,
Hist of N. W. Coast 11:60, 61, where a summary of different authorities is given.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 141

Although the weather was unfavorable, the scene was truly
pleasing, and on Sab. a collection was taken in favor of
home missions, amounting to four dollars and sixty cents. I
will forward you the minutes of said Association when pub-
lished. I have used the above named $4.60 and will deduct
the same from my next draft.

Your unworthy brother in Christ,

EZRA FISHER,
Sec. pro tem., Iowa Bapt. Con.

Rock Island, 111., Dec. 16th, 1844.
Corresponding Sec. A. B. H. M. Socy.
Dear Br. Hill:

It becomes my duty in the order of God's providence to
make my second quarterly report.

My time has been devoted almost exclusively to the work
during the quarter, and more than an ordinary portion of
my time has been spent in associations and convention. Dur-
ing the quarter I have preached twenty-eight sermons and
participated in almost all the public discussions which have
come before the public meetings of our denominations, such
as home and foreign missions, Bible cause, publication cause,
education, etc. Attended twenty weekly prayer and confer-
ence meetings, as the church in this place sustains both a
weekly prayer meeting and conference meeting, which have
been well sustained through the season. Attended four cove-
nant meetings and two church meetings, four meetings of
the Board of the Iowa Convention ; traveled five hundred and
forty miles. I have no evidence of any case of hopeful con-
version during the quarter, yet we have had the satisfaction
of seeing an increased attention in several instances in our
congregations. I have baptised none. We have received
three by letter during the quarter. I have made sixty-five
(65) pastoral visits. We sustain the monthly concert in the
church in this place instead of our weekly prayer meeting.
I have visited two (2) common schools. Obtained no signa-
tures to the temperance pledge. No young men preparing

142 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

for the ministry. Neither organized a church nor assisted in
ordaining a minister. Assisted in the organization of an as-
sociation in this place. Have received about fifty dollars to-
ward my support ; on the subscription for my salary, received
four dollars and sixty cents, the amount of a collection taken
up at the organization of the Rock Island Association for the
cause of home missions, and nine ($9) dollars for the Home
Missionary Society in the Mt. Pleasant church, Henry Coun-
ty, where I preach once a month ; have received nothing for
the Foreign Mission, Bible Publication or Education So-
cieties.

We have one Bible class of about fifteen scholars and
three small Sabbath schools. The one in this place is quite
small and quite interesting; about thirty-five children and
ten teachers. The one with the Mt. Pleasant church com-
prises both young and old and is quite small. The other is
sustained by a Br. Gillmore, twelve miles south of this. It
has about thirty children. The church in this place are now
making an effort, and I think it will be successful, to finish
the house we purchased last summer. This has engaged
part of my time the past week.

I have during the quarter attended the Davenport Associa-
tion and the convention at Canton in this state. On the
whole, although we have witnessed no marked tokens of
divine favor, yet we think the churches are becoming more
consistent, exercising a better discipline and evince a laud-
able growth in the Christian graces and I can but feel a de-
gree of assurance that God will soon appear in answer to
the prayers of His people to revive His work with us. . . .

All of which is respectfully submitted.

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Rock Island.

N. B. — Yours of Nov. 29th came to hand today informing
me of the appointment of Br. H. Johnson to accompany me
to Oregon. The intelligence rejoiced my soul. May God
favour the decision of your Board and greatly bless the enter-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 143

prise. We are making every arrangement to leave as early
as the tenth of April, should the All Wise permit.

I will answer partly your proposed questions. I verily be-
lieve the enterprise is of God and trust he will prosper it
and fondly hope the time is not distant when we shall see
churches in Oregon able and ready to sustain the gospel and
even carry it to others. Your Board will readily see that I
can give you no definite answer. I am willing to confide
that matter to the wisdom and integrity of the Board, when
they shall have learned the true state of the cause by an ac-
tual survey of 'the field.

I should hope never to encumber the cause of missions
with any obligation to support my family while my labours
are unprofitable. As soon as we can open the way for our
support in Oregon, it will be our greatest pleasure to see the
Board directing their aid to other and more destitute fields.
As it relates to remittance after the expiration of the first
year, should your Board think it for the honour of the cause
to continue my services, I think, were you to permit us to
make drafts at the expiration of each semi-annual report on
your treasurer, or on yourself, we could sell those drafts by
endorsing them ourselves, as I understand there is a mer-
chant from Boston doing business at Oregon City at the
falls of the Willamette.72

Yours, E. F.

Rock Island, 111., Jan. 10, 1845.
Rev. B. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

In my quarterly report of December 16th I promised to
write you soon and give the Board in brief my views of the
plan of our future operations in Oregon, should God gracious-
ly permit us to labor in that field.

T2 This is possibly a reference to F. W. Pettygrove, the Oregon City agent of
A. G. and A. W. Benson. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:417, 422.

Money could also have been sent by Hudsons Bay Company's drafts.

144 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

We expect to find our field of labor, so far as our denomi-
nation is concerned, in an entirely new and unformed state :
we shall consequently find everything to do or things will
be left undone. We know some Baptist members have emi-
grated to that country '^ and others are going, but it is rea-
sonable to suppose they are scattered. Should Br. Johnson
accept of the appointment, which I trust he will, I would
suppose we should select two of the most favorable positions
to reach the greatest amount of inhabitants, on or near the
navigable waters and as near each other as circumstances
will admit, so as to enjoy each other's counsels and, as cir-
cumstances permit, labor in public, and in these places make
it our great business to establish churches in the apostolic
order.

I presume we shall find, in exploring the field, more points
of importance that we shall be able to visit monthly on the
Sabbaths. I think it probable we may find it our duty to
establish something like circuits which we may reach period-
ically, while others more remote may demand occasional
visits. I trust we shall feel that our great business will be
preaching the Word both publicly and from house to house.
Yet in a country where education is unprovided for by law,^*
and where every false religionist is propagating his dogmas
through the medium of schools, it seems almost indispensable
to the greatest and most permanent usefulness of the gospel
minister that he become the guardian of youth and patron
of moral and religious education. The Pope of Rome has al-
ready appointed a Bishop of Oregon and has sent out two
ecclesiastics, and with these fathers are to be sent seven fe-

73 A number of Baptists, prominent among whom was David T. Lenox, had
come to Oregon with the immigration of 1843. Lenox and a number of others
settled on Tualatin plains and there organized in May. 1845, a Baptist church.
This was the only Baptist church in Oregon until 1846. The Rev. Vincent Snelling,
a Baptist minister, came with the immigration of 1844, and was, as far as is known,
the first Baptist clergyman in Oregon. C. H. Mattoon, Baptist Annals of Oregon
1:1, 2, 39, 43. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:421, 466.

74 The author was right as to the absence of public state instruction. This
did not come until much later. The first school in Oregon supported by a public
tax was opened in Milton, near St. Helens, Columbia Countv, September 15, 1851.
G. H. Himes; Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:35; 1:201, 325.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 145

male missionaries and a number of priests/^. I therefore
think that at an early period schools should be established
under pious teachers, and, as soon as practicable, one should
be founded on liberal principles, adapted to the wants of the
country and especially to the demands of our own denomi-
nation, which should rise with the demands of the people till
it shall eventually furnish the means for a complete educa-
tion. Should congress pass the land bill, which has so long
been before both branches of our national legislature,'^ I
trust we shall find friends to the Baptist cause sufficient to
carry out such a plan, without materially detracting from
our ministerial usefulness.

While other denominations are directing their energies to
evangelize the natives and half-breeds,'''' I think Baptist mis-
sionaries should not look on with indifference in this work
of blessing the remnants of these once numerous tribes. If
anything more can be done, a way may be opened for the
successful introduction of missionaries in the most favored
positions and thereby effect a great saving of time and ex-
pense to the cause of missions. I will not multiply. But
you will allow me to say that Upper California is becoming
a place of great attraction to western emigrants, and among
them are Baptists who will ever pray for the ordinances as
they were delivered. I am personally acquainted with some
of these, who are inquiring whether the Home Missionary
Society will not appoint them as missionaries. We shall
become acquainted with these brethren in our journey, and
a correspondence at least may be kept up with them by
which we mav learn the wants of that countrv.

75 The first Catholic priests came to Oregon in 1838. One of these, Blanchet,
was created Archbishop of Oregon in 1843. In 1844 a company of five priests, a
number of lay brothers, and six sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, came from
Europe. The "two ecclesiastics" referred to by the author were possibly Fathers
Blanchet and Demers, who had come in 1838. Several others, notably Rev. P. J.
De Smet, came to the country between 1838 and the arrival of the party of 1844.
Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:315, 327.

76 There had been at several times bills before Congress providing for grants
of lands to settlers in Oregon. The reference here must be to the Atchison bill in
the Senate, and possibly to an Oregon bill in the House — neither carried. No
Oregon donation land grant act was passed until the famous act of 1850. Bancroft,
Hist, of Ore. 1:379, 384, 386, 388 : 11:260.

77 The reference here is, of course, to the earlier Protestant missions in
Oregon — those of the Methodists and of the American Board. He seems here not
to be thinking of the Roman Catholic missions to the Indians.

146 CORRESPOXDENXE OF THE

We hope soon to form churches which will relieve your
Board in part at least in sustaining us, and it shall be one
part of our duty to teach the brethren that the gospel is a
sacrificing system. As to the amount it may require from
your Board to enable us to live the second year, so far as I
am concerned it shall be left to your Board and myself to
decide, when God shall in His wisdom make known to us
our duty. I expect, if I am faithful to God, you will appre-
ciate it ; if not, your aid in my support must necessaril}^
cease. Your Board will give me their instructions and make
known their wishes.

We are making preparations for the journey. The winter
yields us the hope at least that we shall have an early spring.
We must be ready to leave this place as soon as the first
day in April. It would be desirable that the draft of which
you speak in yours of Nov. 29 should be here by the first of
March.

Yours as ever,

EZRA FISHER.

P. S. — I made my last quarterly report on the 16th of
Dec. and requested you to forward me a draft of thirty-six
dollars and forty cents ($36.40) for the two last quarters,
after deducting $13.60 which I have received in this region.

N. B. — I have one farther request. Will your Board for-
ward me a draft for my services with this people up to the
first of April when the other draft is forwarded and let me
mail my report just before I leave? I will here say that my
time will be necessarily somewhat interrupted in making
preparations for the journey, but I hope to be able to spend
most of the time in the ministry.

Yours, E. F,

Rock Island, 111., March 14, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

I proceed in brief to make out my quarterly report for the
quarter ending this day, being the third quarter of the year.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 147

I have labored all the time except so much as has been
necessary for me to make preparations for our journey to
Oregon ; and these labors have made much larger drafts
on my time than they would in N. Y., where everything can
be readily obtained and every brother is ready to give timely
assistance. I have spent no time in my private business be-
yond the above named labors, and they probably have cost
me 135 miles' travel and three weeks' time, yet I have met
all my regular preaching appointments and most of the pray-
er meeting appointments, but my pastoral visits have been
neglected to my grief. But such must be, or I must abandon
the desired enterprise. Preached 21 sermons and have been
assisted by several visiting brethren on Sabbaths ; 12 prayer
meetings, 8 conference meetings. 5 covenant meetings and
traveled 124 miles ; no hopeful conversions among my people ;
none baptised ; received none by letter. Monthly concert is
attended at one place. Rock Island church. Made 48 re-
ligious visits. . . . Assisted in the organization of the
Pine Blufifs Church in the south part of this county on the
first Sabbath in February, and in the ordination of Br. Cyrus
G. Clarke as their pastor. Addressed the church on the oc-
casion and gave the charge to the candidate. . . . Re-
ceived nothing from any auxiliary society toward my sup-
port, but about $30 from subscriptions. Have one Bible class
and about 12 scholars, two Sabbath schools and about 50
scholars and 7 teachers. The church at Rock Island are
making arrangements to finish the house they purchased last
summer and will probably be able to occupy it by June next.

I wrote you about two months ago requesting you to for-
ward in advance of the report the amount of my salary up to
the first of April in a draft in connection with the advance
draft for my salary next year. But as yet I have received
neither. Will you forward me the draft immediately, if you
have not done it?

Respectfully submitted.

EZRA FISHER.
Missionary at Rock Island.

148 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

N. B. — I have received no letter from you since the 29th
of Nov. In a letter of the 4th of Nov. you informed me that
my salary would be paid in advance about the month of
Feb. or March and in one you requested me to make every
preparation necessary [for the Oregon journey]. I have
done so as far as my means will allow and am now waiting
with great anxiety to receive the drafts to enable me to finish
the outfit. The little property I had I sold at a great sacri-
fice and the outfit is more expensive than I anticipated, but,
if the draft or drafts reach this place in season, we can be
ready in ten or twelve days for the journey. We are anxious-
ly expecting them every mail. We ought to be on the way
as soon as two or three weeks from this at farthest, but must
stay till your instructions reach me here.^^. The 4th of April
is the day fixed upon for our departure from this place. We
feel that we need greatly the prayers of your Board, especial-
ly that Heaven may bless the mission. I am more and more
convinced of the importance of the enterprise and that God
only can sustain and give us success. You will forgive my
importunity. I know not how to lay over on suspense an-
other year. I fear I am too solicitous ; if so, may God for-
give. Br. Johnson is probably on his way at this time to In-
dependence, Missouri, where I hope to join him, God per-
mitting.

Your unworthy brother in Christ.

EZRA FISHER.

March 14, Evening. Just received my commission and
regret that I had not known three weeks ago that in this
case your Board would not have violated their usual rule. I
shall stay in this place till you forward me the order, or
order N. B. Stanford to receive the draft for me and order
it paid, which I think he will do. In this case, I shall write
you to that efifect before leaving.

Yours in the gospel,
EZRA FISHER.

78 The emigrants {or Oregon left as early in the Spring as possible to reach
Oregon before the winter rains. Some left as early as March, others as late as
May. See Johnson and Winter, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. VII :68.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 149

Rock Island, 111., March 22d, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

I received the commission, dated Feb. 1st and 28th, and
read it with mingled emotions of pleasure and regret.

By that it appears there is some little misunderstanding
between you and me relative to the time when my quarterly
report becomes due. I know the commission under which I
have been laboring the last nine months was dated the 1st
of May; but my time of service under the former appoint-
ment of six months not having expired till the fifteenth of
June, I have made all my quarterly reports to correspond
with that date. Hence my quarterly report which you ex-
pected to be due the first of Feb. was not due till the 15th
of March. Yet, not having heard from you after my inquiry
of January 10th, I prepared my report one day before the
time in order to get it into the mail at as early a date as
practicable, and on that evening the commission appointing
me a missionary to Oregon arrived, in which you stated that
you would hold back the draft of $300 a few days. I greatly
hope that I shall find it in the office on the arrival of the
next mail as the time has now arrived that traveling is toler-
ably good and I have exhausted all my pecuniary means in
the preparation for the journey at a great sacrifice of my
property, and that cheerfully, and have already incurred as
many debts as I dare till the draft arrives ; yet I have to
buy all my flour, some clothing and other articles which must
be procured before we start. You may judge what my anx-
iety must be on the arrival of every mail when I find that it
contains nothing for me. I wrote a letter and put it in the
hands of Br. Byron of Dubuque, which you have undoubted-
ly received before this.

I forgot to state the sum which will be due me on the first
of April, but you will see that it will be $29.00, by a refer-
ence to my report. I have made arrangements with Mr.
Napoleon B. Buford to take the draft out of the post office
and order it paid in his own name instead of mine. When

150 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

you receive an order from me to pay $29 to N. B. Buford
on a draft given for my services up to the first day of April,
you will please pay the said $29 and take the draft, whatever
may be the face of the draft, without any power of attorney
from me to said Buford.

Yours under date of Nov. 14th. 1844, says : "Yours of
16th of Sept. was laid before our Ex. Board at their last
meeting and your request to have your salary commence at
the time of your starting for Oregon was agreed to." But
in the commission you state, "for the period of twelve
months to receive three hundred dollars from the said Board,
or at that rate per annum, the time to commence as soon as
you reach the Territory, the above sum to cover traveling
expenses and salary and you to derive the remainder of your
support from the people among whom you labor."

Now I have sacrificed at least $300 in preparation for the
journey and my pecuniary means are so reduced that I must
break at least $100 or $150 on the salary to be ready to start,
and then we have a wilderness of 2500 miles to cross, with
not a single church organization to receive us and provide
even our bread. Now I leave your Board to say whether of
the two letters shall define the time in which my salary shall
commence. The sacrifice is made and I shall go, God being
my helper, and do what I can. I do not faint or feel dis-
couraged. It is not absolutely certain whether we go by
Council Blufifs or Independence, Missouri. ^^ You will do
well to address me one letter to Independence to the care of
Eld. Hezekiah Johnson, and another to Council Bluffs, imme-
diately on the reception of this. I suppose you are advised
that Mr. Zuron [Jason] Lee^° has been at Washington the

79 These were convenient points on the frontier for reaching the Platte River
Valley, along which was the first part of the trail to Oregon. Independence had
for some years been the rendezvous for those starting west on the Santa Fe trail,
and in fact to all points in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. Overton John-
son and W. H. Winter, Route Across the Rocky Mountains, in Ore. Hist. Soc.
Quar. VII :6S. Bancroft, Hist, of Arizona and New Mexico, 329.

80 Jason Lee, prominent in the Methodist mission in Oregon, had been in
the East since May, 1844, on business connected with Oregon and the mission.
He died March 12, 1845. The Methodist Institute, the forerunner of Willamette
University, was organized in February, 1842. Wm. D. Fenton and H. W. Scott,
on Jason Lee, in Oregon Hist. Soc. Quar. VII :237, 239, 263. See also note 95.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 151

past winter for the purpose of obtaining a grant of land in
Oregon for an Oregon Institute — Methodist, of course. You
will be let into the secret by turning to the President's mes-
sage, with the accompanying documents, from page 492 to
page 495 inclusive. Please be at the trouble to obtain it from
some of the political printing offices in your city and read it.
Then ask the Baptists of the United States if it is not time
for Baptists to look to Oregon.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHK

Rock Island, 111., March 31st, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

At the request of the members of the Board of the Iowa
Convention, I now sit down in great haste and in the midst
of confusion and a little anxiety to write you a private letter,
presenting in brief the views of the members of the local
Board in Davenport relative to the future operations of your
Board in Iowa. We have been contemplating our field of
labor with a prayerful interest, but we cannot do less than
feel emotions of gratitude for the liberal patronage your
Board has extended to it. Yet we feel convinced that all
your funds are not the most judiciously appropriated. . . .
We believe that the present year you will expend from $1300
to $1700 in the bounds of our convention, including Rock
Island Association, and yet numbers of the most important
fields of labor are entirely unreached — Burlington, and at
present Iowa City, Fort Madison and the entire county of
Lee, with a population falling but little short of 10,000 souls.
It is the decided opinion of the brethren of the Board that
some changes ought to take place, so that these points may
efifectually be reached and the cause sutsained in them.

We think there is another defect, although we are far
from charging your Board as being in any measure the
cause, yet we think you may be the cause when the defect is
pointed out. The appropriation of just $100 per annum to
your missionaries irrespective of the place they occupy and

152 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

other contingencies, with a few exceptions, we think, might
be improved upon. We cannot find it in our hearts to dis-
approve of the appointments of your missionaries except,
perhaps, one or two instances. Yet we feel that more regard
should in future be had to the position the missionary oc-
cupies. Setting aside the abiHty to sustain the more im-
portant fields, we know of instances where we think $50
would afiford as much relief to a missionary's family as $100
or $150 would, were the same man to occupy another and
more important field. We then would say that we would
recommend the appointment of missionaries with appro-
priations varying in proportion to circumstances. If a min-
ister is to sustain the cause in Burlington or Fort Madison
or Galena or Bloomington, he must have more than $100
from your Board, or we think little that is permanent will
be effected and you will retain in the older states those very
men for the want of whom the cause must suffer in our Ter-
ritory. We think in a few cases appointments might be made
with an appropriation of but $50 from your Board, and
through that medium you might be enabled to do more to-
wards fully sustaining men in more important points. Could
you visit our prairie country and see its peculiarities, you
would feel the force of these views. The great amount of
labor must be performed in the populous points and from
these reach less populous places.

We hope at our next anniversary to efifect another object,
to-wit : That the convention will be prepared to instruct her
Board not to recommend the appointment of ministers to
labor in the bounds of any church who will not pledge them-
selves to raise, over and above the amount they pledge for
the support of their minister direct, a sum equal to 25 cents
for each member to aid the Society.

We have now two applications pending which are not ap-
proved, either for want of information relative to the appli-
cant or from informality in the application, which may soon
be in your hands. You understand this is a private letter and
will not therefore publish it.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 153

One word respecting myself. I received the commission
more than two weeks since, but as yet the draft has not
reached me, and tomorrow companies from this state will
commence their journey and we have fixed on next Thurs-
day to leave this place, but must wait till the draft reaches
us. We have disposed of all our little possessions and all
our furniture at about half their value to be ready and are
still in suspense whether we shall be able to enter upon our
anticipated field of labor. We sometimes fear the draft is in
the bottom of the lake, or has miscarried. You may imagine
with what anxiety we wait each returning mail and what are
our feelings of disappointment as we return from the office
unprovided for. We try to feel that the hand of the Lord is
in all this. Sometimes I feel to say "Thy Will, O Lord, be
done." Yet our constant prayer is, "If it please Thee O
Lord, grant us the desire of our hearts and give us season-
ably the means necessary to the prosecution of our journey."
Should the next mail bring the draft, we must be delayed a
few days beyond the appointed time. You have undoubtedly
forwarded the draft before this.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Perhaps it is not the will of the Lord that I should
go; if so, I should submit, yet my heart is in the work and
it will be time enough for me to learn that fact when I find
the door is shut. Till then, I am bound to act up to a con-
viction of duty, in view of the importance of the field before
me. Should the draft go back to you with my name on its
back, you will not pay it till you hear from me by letter, as
I shall write you immediately on the receipt of the draft
that you may learn the time of our departure.

E. FISHER.

Rock Island, April 5th, 1845.
Dear Br. Brabrook:

At the request of Dr. Witherwax and others, I take my
pen to address you a line in great haste. The church in

154 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Davenport are still destitute and perhaps have been rather
difficult to please as a whole, yet they greatly need a minis-
ter, and the Territory as much need a leading mind in the
denomination who may exercise a father's care and kindness
toward our esteemed young brethren in the ministry. Now
I hardly know what to write you. I would not draw you
away from a very responsible and important post to occupy
a less important one. Yet, should you determine to settle as
a pastor, I feel greatly desirous that an effectual door may
be opened for you in Iowa. The church at Davenport and
in this place cannot unite in the support of one man ; each
would claim the services and residence of the minister. And
the field is so wide in this vicinity that our brethren feel that
they must have a man all the time on this side the river.
Perhaps they judge correctly. I have no doubt from the ac-
quaintance I have with the brethren in Davenport that ':hcy
are prepared to give you a unanimous call to settle with
them, provided they can raise the means for your support.

The church in Bloomington will probably be left destitute
before long, at longest in the month of June. It is the object
of this letter to elicit from you a reply to a few questions.
Are you determined to continue in your present agency? If
not, would you regard it duty to settle in Iowa, provided you
could be supported at a commanding point? Should the
churches of Davenport and Bloomington unite in giving you
a call, could you consent to supply the two churches thirty
miles asunder, but with an excellent road on the bank of the
river? Dr. Witherwax says their church would wait six
months, if they knew you would settle with them at the ex-
piration of that time. He also thinks your support might
be raised by adopting that plan. Please write Dr. W. in
answer to this as I shall probably be on our long journey
before you will be able to have a letter reach this place. We
are only waiting a draft from N. Y., which we are expecting
every mail. Do not fail to attend our convention at Bloom-
ington the first of June. May God direct you according to
His holy will. Pray for us that our enterprise may be under

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 155

the fostering care of the Almighty and be greatly blessed of
the Lord.

Yours in gospel bonds,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Please stir up Brs. Bailey, Sherwood, Rogers and
Crane to attend our convention.

Done by request of those who love the cause of Christ in
Iowa.

Davenport, April 12th.
Dear Br. :

We are now here on our way for Oregon. We feel alone,
as Br. Johnson does not go this spring in consequence of the
ill health of his wife. But, if God is with us, all will be well.
You see by Br. Witherwax's letter the state of feelings of
this church in relation to you. I trust God will direct you.
You will not fail to attend the convention at least. I failed
of taking up the collection for the magazine, as I expected,
through a variety of causes, but will leave the money with
Dr. W. for the two volumes. I would be glad to have it
hereafter sent to me to Oregon, if you can direct ; if not, it
must be discontinued at present. Should you finally think
it your duty to come to this Territory, perhaps you will do
well not to expect anything positively from Bloomington.

Yours truly,
EZRA FISHER.

P. S. — The brethren here wish to have you come to this
place and devote your labors entirely to this place and the
immediate vicinity.

Yours, E. FISHER.
Address on back :

Elder Brabrook,

Upper Alton,
111.

156 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Rock Island, 111., April 11th, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

Yours of March 29th came to hand the last mail. I had
made arrangements with Br. E. F. Calkins to advance the
funds on the drafts and consequently we were almost ready
for our long and laborious journey. Our clothing and pro-
visions are all loaded and we expect to cross the river early
in the morning. I am almost worn down by the fatigue of
preparation, but trust with common blessings to improve
when once on our journey. We hope to be able to reach
Independence before the last company leaves for Oregon.^^

I will make the report up to the present from March the
14th in brief. I have preached eleven sermons. Spent most
of my time in preparation for my journey. Delivered one
public address at the request of the citizens of Davenport on
the subject "Agricultural and Commercial and Moral Pros-
pects of Oregon." Attended six prayer and two conference
meetings. Visited six families. Attended Sabbath school
twice and addressed the school once. Received three dollars
towards my salary. All the remaining, I am pained to say,
my press of business obliges me to leave unattended to. I
regret exceedingly tha't I should have been the cause of the
slightest disquietude, either to yourself or [to] the Board.
I trust I have the soul of a Christian and would not willingly
wound the feelings of an enemy, much less those of the
guardians of the cause of American Baptist missions. If I
know my own heart, I have only sought explanations, and
the farthest possible would I be from censuring either you
or the Board. You say we do not find any memorandum of
a letter of the 4th of Nov. I have a letter now in my hand
dated the 4'th of Nov.. 1844. and in the one under date of
Nov. 29 you state : "I wrote you on the 2d instant, etc."
Now I think you may find your memorandum by referring
to the 2nd of Nov. instead of the 4th. After leaving Syra-
cuse, where I last parted with you personall3% I did not

81 See note 78.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 157

reach Iowa so soon by some weeks as I expected in conse-
quence of the extremely bad traveling. Your appointment
was here some time before my arrival. I consequently re-
ported from the time I commenced labor in the Territory
and not from the tmie of the date of the commission, and,
when I received the commission of the 1st of May. I finished
the six months' service before I commenced reporting under
that commission, and I suppose there is the place where
originated all our misunderstanding. I supposed my former
reports had been acceptable, hence I supposed you would not
expect a quarterly report before the 15th of March. Had I
know'U your expectations, I should most cheerfully have re-
ported the 1st of February. You sent me a draft of $41.67,
yet, according to my calculation, but $31.70 would be my
due up to the present date and but $29 up to the 1st of x\pril.
As the expense of my outfit has been much greater than I
expected and the sum I will have to take with me after the
making of the outfit is so small, I concluded to order the
whole paid and will be willing to make the deduction from
the next appointment's salary, should your Board request it.
I shall start from this place with about $240.00 and we shall
be at about $50 charges in getting to Independence. In view
of my pecuniary situation, the friends in this place gave me a
collection for my personal benefit amounting to $8.70, after
preaching a sermon on the subject of the Oregon Mission,
and after a similar manner the people in Davenport raised
me about $11.60, as a token of sympathy for me in the sac-
rifice they regard me now making. I name this that you
may see that our friends here approve of our undertaking
and bid us God speed. I regret exceedingly that Br. Johnson
will not go this year.

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I trust I shall soon have a fellow laborer and that T

now have the prayers of all the members of the Board. T

feel often greatly to distrust my adaptation to so important

an enterprise, yet I trust God is my helper, and only through

158 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

His strength shall I prove a blessing to the cause of our
precious Redeemer.

Yours, E. F.

St. Joseph,^^ Missouri, on the East Bank of Missouri River,

May 14, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

We left Rock Island on the 5th of April. Spent the Sab-
bath in Davenport, where I preached twice. Were affection-
ately received by the brethren, and on the 7th commenced
our journey, after singing a missionary hymn and publicly
commending ourselves and the mission we anticipate to the
care of Him who rules the hearts of men, being accompanied
on our way two miles by three brethren and seven miles
by another. Rested and preached [on the Sabbaths] except
the last, when we were obliged to pitch our tent on the pre-
ceding evening two miles from timber in the midst of a
broad prairie. Our journey has been fatiguing, yet on the
whole our health has improved. We have now 14 wagons
in company and suppose there are at least 50 behind ; yet,
lest we may be disappointed in falling in with their com-
pany, we have judged it prudent to move over into the In-
dian territory immediately. And now, while I am writing
in my tent, some of the teams are crossing the Missouri
River. We find our route will be something more than 100
miles nearer and, at the same time, impeded with less water
courses than it would have been by Independence. There-
fore I suppose I have failed of receiving an important letter
from you. I trust, however, that you will forward me a let-
ter to Oregon City, Oregon Territory, by ship, through the
medium of the Methodist Mission Agency in your city, so
that I may receive it on my arrival at that place.

The spirit of immigration is great this year, yet it is im-
practicable to tell exactly the number of souls which will

82 St. Joseph and other points along the Missouri in this vicinity, such as
Independence, Liberty and Westport, were frecpient points of rendezvous, as they
were convenient places from which to start uji the Platte Valley, the emigrant
route. See also note 79.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 1S9

cross the mountains this summer.^-^ 200 wagons have already
passed this place and the immediate vicinity, and probably
twice that number have passed Independence. It is judged
that from 5000 to 15,000 souls will pass the mountains this
summer. Br. Johnson probably will not go this summer, yet I
trust that he will next spring. If not, I think your Board
will not delay to have a missionary ready next spring for
Oregon. I am more and more convinced of the importance
of the enterprise and desire to become more like our Divine
Master in temper and activity in His cause. But God must
bless, or all is in vain. The care of the camp at this par-
ticular time urges brevity. When we arrive at Fort Laramie
I will probably write you again. I hope to be able to keep
a journal through my journey.

Yours in great haste,

EZRA FISHER.

Indian Territory, Nemaha Agency, 25 miles west of St.
Joseph, Mo., May 23. 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

At the suggestion of Br. Johnson, I submit to you the pro-
ceedings of the meeting of the New London Emigration
Company for Oregon, of which Br. Johnson and myself, with
our families, form a part.

At a meeting of the emigrants convened at this place, on
motion Elder E. Fisher was called to the chair and J. H.
Rinearson was appointed secretary.

On motion a committee of seven were appointed to draft
a constitution and rules for the government of the compani-
on their way to Oregon, to-wit : Ezra Fisher, A. Hackelman.
Eckenburg. Knox. Gallaheir. Hezekiah Johnson ar.d ^Vm.
Bruck. Adjourned to 2 o'clock P. M.

83 The immigration to Oregon in 1845 was the largest uji to that time. F!an-
croft says that it numbered about 3.000. Rancroft. Hist, of Ore. 1:508. .\bout ISO
more went to California. Hancroft. Hist, of Cal. I\':^71. I'.ritisli officers in
Oregon in 1845-1846 estimated the immigration at 2.000. Warre and Vavasour, ed.
by J. Schafer, in Ore. Hist. See. Quar. X :50.

160 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

2 o'clock P. M. company convened; the chairman called
to order. The committee submitted the following constitu-
tion and rules, which were unanimously adopted :^^

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1st. This Company shall be called the New Lon-
don Emigrating Company for Oregon.

Art. 2d. All persons uniting with the company shall be
bound by the regulations hereinafter provided.

Art. 3d. All male members over the age of sixteen years
shall have the right to vote in the business transactions of
the company.

Art. 4th. The officers of this company shall consist of a
Captain, Lieutenant, Orderly Lieutenant, Sergeant of the
Guard, Engineer and a Committee of Five, who shall be elect-
ed each four weeks , except the Engineer and Sergeant of
the Guard, who shall be appointed by the Captain.

Art. 5th. Captain to maintain good order and strict dis-
cipline and to enforce all rules adopted by this company. It
shall be the duty of the Lieutenant to take charge of the cat-
tle and to call out a sufficient number of men and boys not
engaged in driving teams to drive and take care of the loose
cattle, and he shall be subject to the order of the Captain.
It shall be the duty of the Orderly Sergeant to keep a fair
roll of the names of all the men subject to duty. It shall
the duty of the Engineer to remove any obstruction in the
road and select the most suitable places for encampment.
It shall be the duty of the Committee to settle all matters
of difference between two or more persons in said company,
according to the evidence in the case. Any person or persons
that may feel themselves aggrieved at the decision of the
Committee shall have the right of appeal to the company,
provided that parties in dispute shall not be allowed to vote,

84 It was customary for the emigrant parties to adopt constitutions. One of
the emigration of 1844," for instance, was published in the New York Herald in
January. 184.S, and the author may have seen it. for the two constitutions resemble
each other in many ways. Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. 111:407.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 161

and a decision of a majority of the voters shall be final except
in criminal cases, which shall require a vote of two-thirds.

Art. 6th. Those who have loose cattle shall provide hands
to drive in proportion to the number owned.

Art. 7th. Any person attaching himself to his company
shall be bound not to take more than one quart of ardent
spirits to each person in his family, and in no case shall any
individual let it be known to the Indians that there is any in
the company ; and it shall be the duty of the Judicial Com-
mittee to examine each wagon to see that this article is not
violated.

Art. 8th. When the company may have opportunity to
hold religious assemblies, any person violating the rules of
decorum or disturbing such worshiping congregation shall be
taken into custody by the Judicial Committee and shall be
dealt with according to its decision ; and it shall be the duty
of the company to rest on each Sabbath, except in cases of
emergency.

Art. 9th. This constitution may be altered or amended at
any regular meeting of the company by a vote of two-thirds
of the legal voters.

Br. Johnson and family are here and our company will
move forward tomorrow.

Our company consists of 50 wagons, 214 souls and about
666 head of cattle. 275 wagons have already passed this
point before us, and about 1000 souls. It is uncertain how
many have left Independence. We have heard of one com-
pany which left that place with 500 wagons and another
which have left, the number not yet learned at this place.

We have in our company 30 Baptist professors, including
Br. Johnson's family and my own, 5 Methodists, 2 Presby-
terians, 2 Cumberland Presbyterians, 5 Associate Reformed
Presbyterians, 2 Seceders, 1 Anti-missionary Baptist, 1
Campbellite Baptist and I Dunkard Baptist.

162 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Last year an Elder Snelling from the Platte country moved
to Oregon with a small organized Baptist church.^^

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Will you publish this entire in the Baptist Advo-
cate? I suppose our company is the first that ever observed
the Lord's day in crossing the Rocky Mountains. We feel
that we need your prayers.

The Indian Agent, Major Wm. P. Richardson, has rendered
us every facility and has invited us to participate in the hos-
pitality of his family. His wife is an excellent Methodist
lady. We have been here one week. In about 150 miles we
shall probably find a hard gravel road and short bufifalo grass,
salt enough for our stock. You will probably hear from us
when we reach Fort Laramie, 650 miles from this.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.

We are all in good health and the company in fine spirits.
I spent last Sabbath with the Presbyterian Mission at this
place and preached once, and, on Wednesday last, attended
prayer meeting at this place and we had an affecting scene.
I addressed the meeting a'bout twenty minutes. Mr. Hamil-
ton, the superintendent, is a godly man.

Fort Laramie,^^, Indian Territory, July 10, 1845.
Dear Br. :

By the grace of God we have been preserved through
dangers and fatigues about 1000 miles on our journey and we
are now in comfortable health, although Mrs. Fisher has had
a slight attack of the fever, occasioned no doubt from expos-
ure and excessive fatigues on the Platte River. The multi-
plied labors of the camp and the great anxiety of the emi-
grants to progress on their journey almost entirely preclude

85 See note on letter of Jan. 10, 1845. This was either incorrect information,
or the church disbanded on or before reaching Oregon, as the first Baptist church
in Oregon was organized in May, 1844. The next two were organized in 1846.

86 Fort Laramie was not the present city of Laramie, but was a fur traders'
post on the south side of the Platte, near its junction with the Laramie fork.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 163

the opportunity of performing anything like missionary labor
on our way. In this respect we are somewhat disappointed,
yet we hope to exert in some measure a restraint over them
which will be salutary hereafter. When we left the Nimaha
Agency, we hoped to be able to influence the company in
which we then were to rest on the Lord's day, but we soon
found that every circumstance was construed into a case of
emergency, except those manifest providences in which it be-
came impracticable to move. You have no conception of the
influence such a journey exerts for the time being upon the
character of moral, and even professedly Christian men. Ev-
ery man's interest seems to conflict with that of his neighbor,
and still they must live in a community to a certain extent.
We have preached but three Sabbaths since we left the Ni-
maha Agency, and been constrained, notwithstanding every
remonstrance, to travel a few miles, sufficient to throw the
camp in confusion every other Sabbath. But the days of
this pilgrimage are comparatively short and we hope and
trust the trials will the better fit us for faithfully serving our
common Lord in the land to which we are directing our
steps. May Almighty God grant us the desire of our hearts.

Our roads since we crossed the Missouri River have been
the best we ever saw in any country and at present our
greatest fears are that the long season of drought will ren-
der the feed so poor and scarce that our cattle will suffer.
We have suffered but little for want of water as yet, and we
are now approaching a region of springs and perpetual snow,
so that we have but little to fear from that score. We expect
it will be at least twelve or thirteen weeks more before we
reach the field of our future labors, and we know not whether
we shall be able to write you again till that time. I am now
writing, seated on a buffalo robe in the open air under a
scorching sun (I would suppose the thermometer would
range between 86 and 96 degrees), with the bottom of a
fallen wash tub in my lap for a table and in the midst of the
confusion of the camp. You must therefore tax your pa-
tience in deciphering these hieroglyphics. Our wagons are

164 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

now undergoing repairs, liaving become shrunk almost be-
yond your conception by protracted and excessive lieat from
the sun and sand. Probably in two days we shall be on our
line of march. As near as we can calculate, about 600 wagons
are in advance of us and probably about 100 are behind us,
and it will be almost a fair estimate to reckon 425 souls to
every hundred wagons.^^

Yours in haste,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — Br. Johnson and family are with us and in good
health. He requests me to say that, as he is preparing a let-
ter for the Cross and Journal and his time is all employed
in that and the multiplied cares of the camp, he cannot write
at this time. He sends his respects to yourself and Board.

Yours, E. F.

Snake River, 7 miles above the Salmon Falls, Oregon Terri-
tory, Sept. 12th, 1845.
Dear Br. Hill:

I this day am happy to meet Dr. White,^^ the Indian agent
for Oregon, on his way to your city and Washington. It
affords us peculiar pleasure to state to you and your Board
that by the abounding grace of the All Wise God, Br. John-
son, myself and our families have been preserved through a
fatiguing journey of about 2000 miles by ox team and that
we are now in health and within about 670 miles of our
journey's end. The fatigues of our journey perpetually
pressing upon us forbid our doing much directly by preach-
ing the word of God, yet we hope soon to be placed where
we may labor directly for the temporal and spiritual welfare
of the new and rising colony with whom our interests are
soon to be identified. We feel as much as ever interested
in the enterprise and our hopes are as high, although we feel

87 This estimate was apparently nearly correct. See note S3.

S8 Elijah White, At. D., had arrived in Oregon in 1837 as a member of the
Methodist mission. He was appointed United States sub-Indian agent for the
Oregon Country in 1842. He was now on his way to Washington bearing to
Congress a memorial of the Legislature of the Provisional '^)regon Government,
and on business concerning his office. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. I-.l.'iS, 254, 481-6.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 165

convinced that we will have to meet all the peculiarities of a
new country.

May God give us grace to acquit ourselves faithfully in
His fear. Dr. White gives a flattering account of the col-
ony, as you will learn by a personal interview with him,
which you will doubtless have. I have but a moment's time
to write, as our camps are on the eve of moving and Dr.
W. is in the same condition.

We hope to reach the place of our destination in about 8
weeks, if God will give us a share in your petitions to the
Father of all our blessings, that we may have grace to plant
and water churches in the true apostolic spirit.

I have not time to write to our relatives in the state of
N. York. You will confer a favor on us and them, should
you insert a note in the Baptist Register stating that we
are all in health.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., February 26th. 1846.
Dear Brother :

After a protracted journey of more than seven and a half
months and a distance of more than 2500 miles,^^ we now
find ourselves situated in the lower part of Oregon in the
midst of an extremely interesting country, but in all the
rudeness of nature. Consequently you will not be disap-
pointed when you learn the true state of society as it ex-

89 A quotation from a letter of a fellow immigrant of the same train as the
author throws an interesting sidelight on the trip.

"Another trial that one has often to meet on the way is disregard for the
Sabbath. I suppose there was about as much contention on that subject in the
company in which I came as any other. A good part of the company cared nothing
about that, or any other religious question, and if it suited them they wished to
travel on that day as well as any other. And even then when they did stop on
tiiat day it was only to mend their wagons or wash their clothes. I do not say
that all did this, for there were some of our company that were devotedly pious.
There were three ministers in the company ; one a Seceder minister from about
Burlington [this was T. J. Kendall, D. D.]. The other two were Baptist ministers,
one from Iowa, the otlier from Ilock Island County, Illinois, whose name was
Fisher. . . . He manifested more of the true spirit of Christ while on the road
than any other man with whom I was acquainted. . . . The company in which I
came traveled, maybe, half of the Sabbaths on the way. We had preaching most
of the davs on which we stopped." — I,etters of Andrew Rodgers, Jr.. April 22, 1846,
quoted in" "The United Presbyterian" (Vol. 46, No. 2), Jan. 13, 1898, p. 10.

166 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ists in this place and the surrounding country. I arrived
with my family at the Tuallity Plains^^ about the 6th of
December last, after traveling" in the rains about 15 days
and having occasional rains for the preceding month. When
you learn that I walked further than would cover the whole
distance of the journey, bearing my full proportional part
of the services of the company, and that neither myself nor
family laid off our clothing more than four or five nights
during the whole journey, always sleeping in our tent on
the ground, you will not be surprised that we were worn
down with protracted fatigue and care. But a merciful
Providence has sustained us all the way through the wilder-
ness and blessed us with more than a usual measure of
health and strength. Yet the last month I found my strength
gradually yielding. On our arrival, although we were greet-
ed with kindness by the few brethren we met, we did not
find our lot cast in the midst of wealthy churches who were
participating in the fruits of centuries of labours in civiliza-
tion and Christianity. We were, however, kindly received
into the cabin of Br. Lenox,^^ where we have resided up to
the present, and, although his house contains but one room,
about 18 feet by 22, without a single pane of glass, and his fam-
ily consists of 13 souls, besides, almost every night, one, two
or three travelers, and my family consists of six souls, we have
passed the winter thus far quite as pleasantly as you would
imagine in view^ of the circumstances, and probably more so
than a large portion of the last emigration, although per-
haps a little more straitened for room.

With the exception of the last two weeks, our health, as
a family, has been very good since our arrival. . . . The

90 There is much obscurity surrounding the origin of the names Tualatin and
Tuallaty. George H. Himes, from his investigations, believes Tualatin probably to
be an Indian name meaning "a land without trees," describing the natural prairies of
what is now Washington County; and Tuallaty (the accent on the penult) to be an
Indian name meaning "a lazy man," describing the sluggish river. If this is true,
Tualatin was the name applied to the plains, and Tuallaty to the river; but a con-
fusion of the two early took place which ultimately resulted in applying fualatm
to both river and prairie. The plains had begun to be settled at least as early as
1840 Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:244. Thev had at this time about 150 families,
Canadians, half-breeds and Americans. Warre and Vavasour, ed. by J. Schafer, Ore.
Hist. Soc. Quar. X:75

91 See note 73.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 167

amount of ministerial labor that I have been able to per-
form since our arrival would seem to a minister in the east-
ern or middle states to be trifling indeed. But were you in
an entirely new country not reclaimed from the savages, with
only one settler on each mile square and that only in the
open plains, in the dead of winter, with the rains almost daily
falling till all the small streams are swollen to swimming, and
numbers of bridges, of which there are as yet but few, swept
away, with all the cares of a family to be met, after eight
months' consumption of provisions and clothing, where sup-
plies are to be procured at distances of from ten to thirty
miles, 52 it will appear less strange. I have visited but little,
have preached every Sabbath but three, and then my place
was supplied by others, except once when journeying, the
rains and the distance from neighbors prevented. Yet I am
almost daily having intercourse with citizens from various
parts of the country and, through that means, hope the way
is opening for more extended labors in the opening of the
spring, which is now beginning to make its appearance. I
have established an evening spelling school for children of
the family and one of the neighbors and a Bible class on Sab-
bath evenings in the same families. About twelve children
attend regularly. . . .

As it relates to my views of the importance of the field
we are now just entering, I am by no means discouraged,
but on the whole have a growing conviction that I never in
my life Avas placed in a more responsible relation ; yet at the
same time I feel borne down with the surrounding and op-
ponent obstacles to extended usefulness. If you will not re-
gard me desponding, I will name a few of them: First, we
have but one church in Oregon^^ and only two of the mem-

92 The nearest points where supplies could be purchased were Oregon City
and Portland. Pettygrove had established a store in the latter place in 1845 and
Liovejoy had cut out a road to the Tualatin plains. They may also have been able
to get a few supplies at Linnton. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:9.

Oregon City was begun in 1829-30 by Dr. McLoughlin and by 184S-6 had 300
inhabitants, two church buildings, about 100 dwelling houses and stores, a grist
mill, and several sawmills. Warre and Vavasour, ed. by J. Schafer in Ore. Hist.
See. Quar. X:47-51.

93 The West Union Church on Tualatin Plains. See note 73.

168 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

bers living within 25 miles of the place, so that all efficiency
by church organization is lost ; and those that have emigrated
the past season are generally poor and but just able to pro-
vide for their immediate wants. The forty or fifty Baptist
members are scattered over an extent of country, perhaps 90
miles in length and 50 in breadth. Again, we are destitute
of juvenile books and periodicals and books peculiar to the
wants of our denomination. And then, the settlements are
fast extending south and west and northwest to points which
soon must rise to very considerable importance, and here are
Br. Johnson and myself, with exhausted funds and beyond
the reach of your aid for more than a year (and we must
necessarily apply ourselves in part to procuring the means
of present sustenance), with the labor of five or six men be-
fore us in the ministry, and that, too, at a time which most
of all is the most favorable to give permanence and character
to a rising nation. Do you ask how our means are exhausted
so soon? We answer, that when we arrived at The Dalles
exhausted of provisions, we paid $8 per hundred for flour
and $6 for beef; at the Cascades, from $6 to $10 for flour and
$6 for beef, and on our arrival in the Plains we found flour
worth from $4 to $5, and beef $6 and pork $10, fresh ; sale
shoes, coarse, $3 per pair and custom work $6; axes, $4 each;
nails, 16c per pound; coiYee, SSy^c per pound; common calico,
from 25c to 62i/4c per yard ; a common cast bake kettle, with
a lid, from $3 to $6, when to be had at any price, and most
of our wearing apparel is somewhat in the same proportion ;
school books cannot be had at any price.^* Now, could our
able brethren and pious, too, see and feel as we do the great
reluctance with which we must leave the work in part to
serve the present urgent wants of our families (and these
wants must be still more urgent before we can get any re-
mittances from your Board) would they not esteem it a
pleasure to make up a box of common clothing, or clothes,
laid in by their families, which will cover nakedness and ren-

94 The first school books to be brought into Oregon in any quantity were by
Dr. G. H. Atkinson in 1848.— Geo. H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 169

der the appearance of our children in the house of worship
decent in Oregon? We are sure we do not covet the softest
raiment for ourselves or families, but we do greatly desire
to be able to give ourselves wholly to the work, and some-
thing in this way might lighten the expense of our support
and add greatly to our usefulness.

The subject of education, too, allow me to say, rests with
great weight on my mind. Judging charitably, with all the
laudable efforts of our citizens, it is beyond their power to
do much by way of educating their children while they have
so much to provide for present animal wants, and are placed
beyond the reach of books. Besides this, the greatest efforts
made are those by Romans^s and the Methodists. Now could
we obtain a few school books so as to enable us to operate
a common school, they would be of great service. I hope
to be able to organize two or three churches, by the aid of
Br. Snelling, and to explore generally the settlements above
and visit the mouth of the Columbia and Puget Sound dur-
ing the coming dry season, should Providence give us and
our families life and health. We are often strengthened and
encouraged by the reflection that we have the prayers and
sympathies of many, very many, personal and dear Christian
friends, as well as of many whom we shall never know till
we see as we are seen and bow together around the throne
of our exalted Redeemer.

Yours, E. F
Received July 22.

Oregon City, Feb 27th. 1846.
Dear Br. Hill:

The haste in which I write and the circumstances will be
the only apology for the want of order in which the subjects

95 A Catholic school for boys, "St. Joseph's College," was opened in 1843 at
St. Paul, on French Prairie. The Sisters of Notre Dame opened a school for girls
on French Prairie in 1844 and in Oregon City in 1848. E. V. O'Hara, Pioneer
Catholic History of Oregon, pp. 123-125.

The boys' school at St. Paul's was closed in 1849, the girls' school in 1852
and the school at Oregon City in 1853. Ibid. pp. 129, 130.

The Methodist '"Oregon Institute" (the precursor of Willamette University) was
organized in 1842. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:201, 203.

170 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

are thrown together. What, however, you pubHsh, you will
cull out and arrange, as I would, had I paper and time before
the return party leave this place.

I was upon the subject of education last night and I can-
not leave it till I have still further urged its claim upon our
churches at home. And here I will say that, with few excep-
tions, we have had very few schools in Oregon and most of
those of a character such as might reasonably be expected in
so new and remote a settlement. Our Methodist friends have
a school in operation about 60 miles above this, in which
are taught the branches usually taught in common schools in
the States, with a male teacher part of the year, a female
teacher through the year, about 40 scholars, and a spacious
edifice completed. About 30 miles above this, the Roman
Catholics are making a strong elifort and this year they are
erecting a large edifice to be devoted to the purposes of edu-
cation and have a school in operation,^^ and I am credibly in-
formed that they contemplate a similar institution on the
Cowlitz. In both of these they propose to teach all the
branches essential to a thorough education, without directly
inculcating their peculiar religious tenets. The influence of
this sect is becoming strong in this territory. I am informed
by indubitable authority that there is not a place in the whole
territory where the higher branches can be acquired except
by a private teacher or in a Catholic school. We then need
extremely a series of elementary books, geography, grammar,
arithmetic, natural philosophy and other school books, but
we have not the means of compensation except by exchanges.
They would be purchased were they here, if wheat would
buy them. Can we not have them? Again we are in perish-
ing need of juvenile reading, such as the publications of the
Am. Bap. Pub. Soc, and the religious periodicals of our de-
nomination, both for young and old. We are almost in a
heathen land so far as relates to the circulation of religious

96 In March, 1846, Vavasour described the Roman Catholic Mission on French
Prairie, as having "several large wooden bviildings. two churches, dwelling houses
and a nunnery." On the Cowlitz he mentioned the Catholic church as being near
the settlement of about 19 families. Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. X:91, 93.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 171

intelligence, while there is a readiness and eagerness on the
part of citizens generally to read anything late from the
States. Some of our numerous brethren in New York and
Boston could easily send to Br. Johnson and myself the files
of their own religious periodicals, after reading, without in-
creasing their expenses. I know of no country where relig-
ious tracts would be read with more interest than in Oregon.
I know Br. J. M. Peck to be emphatically a western pioneer,
and through his influence and yours, may we not expect im-
mediately an appropriation of the Am. Bap. Pub. Soc.'s pub-
lications for Oregon, a proportion of them advocating our
denominational views and exhit)iting the true character of
popery? Should a box of clothing be made up for the relief
of our families, allow me to state that common calico, shirt-
ing, any woolen clothing, either for men or women, or chil-
dren between the size of infancy and manhood, shoes, half
hose, or any articles of bedclothes would be very acceptable ;
our hats and shoes are literally worn out and Br. Johnson's
boys have been barefooted, and little girls, too, all winter,
and mine are candidates for the same treatment unless we
get returns from New York or supply them and varied other
demands by the labor of our hands.

Should your Board continue us in their employ, I shall
need a large portion of the appropriation in clothing and
books purchased by you in New York as I may designate in
my reports, one of which I shall make and forward by the
next return party after this, which will leave in April or
]\ray. I had forgotten to mention in the catalogue of our
wants writing paper, an article not now in this city. Please
send me a few reams and charge it to me from the next ap-
propriation.

Hitherto I have but barely alluded to the field before us.
The present population from the States is estimated at about
five or six thousand souls, and, when once settled in their
homes, will extend up the river about 120 miles above this
and up the varied tributaries, and from this downward to the

172 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

lower mouth of the Willamette.^'" At the mouth of the Co-
lumbia a strong settlement is being made, and another on
Pugette Sound. Our country below the Cascade Mountains
is not extensive; yet, as far as I have seen, I think the fer-
tility of the soil generally will exceed the description given
by Lieutenant Wilkes and Mr. Townsend.^^

The truth is, it is in a great measure an unexplored coun-
try, except by trappers who have probably but little interest
in judging of the fertility of the soil and still less in publish-
ing it to the world. I have traveled down the north bank
of the Columbia on foot from The Dalles to Vancouver ; from
Vancouver to the Tuallity Plains; through the Plains four
times ; from the Plains through the Chahalum Valley, across
the Yam Hill River and up the Willamette Valley across the
Rickreall about half the distance to the Luckymac,^^ making a
distance from the Plains of about 80 miles ; from the Tuallity
Plains to this place twice, a distance of about 28 miles, and
I think I hazard nothing when I give it as my opinion that its
fertility is scarcely excelled by the same extent in the Missis-
sippi Valley. In wheat it far exceeds in yield any part of
the United States. The crop never fails by winter killing, by
blight or by insects, and produces from ten to more than
fifty bushels to the acre of the best wheat I ever saw. All
the small grains and vegetables do well as far as tried and
turnips excel anything I ever saw. The climate is remark-
ably mild during the winter, although rainy, and is said to be
extremely fine during the spring, summer and autumn. It
is ascertained that there is a large extent of country north of

97 This estimate of the American population of Oregon seems about correct.
See F. G. Young, The Oregon Trail, Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. 1 :370.

The history o fthe settlement at Astoria is well known. The Methodists oc-
cupied Clatsop plains in 1840. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:185, 188. It was rather
optimistic, however, to call the settlements here and on Puget Sound "strong." The
American settlement at the latter point had only just begun, and was very small.
Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Idaho and Montana, pp. 1-5.

98 Lieutenant Charles Wilkes, commander of the U. S. Exploring Expedition
of 1838-42, was in Oregon in 1841. His "Narrative" was published in five volumes
in Philadelphia in 1844. A "Syno;isis of the U. S. Exploring Expeditiori during the
years 1838-41," appeared earlier. Bancroft, Hist, of N. W. Coast, pp. 670-683.

John K. Townsend was a naturalist who was in Oregon in 1834-6. His "Nar-
rative of a Tourney Across the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River" appeared
in Philadelphia in 1839. Ibid. p. 577.

99 Probably the Luckiamute, a stream in Polk County.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 173

the mouth of the Columbia reaching to the Sound and back
perhaps more than a hundred miles, much of which is open
and fertile, susceptible of immediate settlement. The coun-
try of the Umpqua, the Rogue and the Clamet^oo is represent-
ed as remarkably fertile and somewhat extensive. New towns
must soon rise up on the river, both above and below us. At
the mouth of the Columbia and on the Puget Sound there
must soon spring up small cities whose extent and import-
ance will in a great measure be determined by the intelli-
gence, virtue and enterprise of the people of the tributary
country. Our climate, our soil, our timber and our water
power conspire to render our resources, when developed,
great, for the extent of the territory, beyond that of any coun-
try I ever saw. But with all these facilities, we greatly need
a few discreet young brethren, with perhaps families, who
love our Lord and His cause, who can teach and operate
upon the mind of the rising generation in bringing them to
adopt correct views in all the social and moral relations of
man. We also greatly need brethren, with families, who
know how to feel and act for the wants of the church, with
whom ministers may counsel and execute.

In truth the door is fast opening for business men on the
coast as well as in the interior, and the facilities for emigrat-
ing from the eastern states are about as good, if not better,
by water than by land. Five hundred dollars invested in
clothing or mechanics' tools in New York or Boston is better
than the same amount in cattle and wagons in Missouri, and
then emigrants might sail in the fall and arrive in the spring
in time to make a crop.

You can forward any papers or boxes from New York or
Boston or other port by any ship bound to the mouth of the
Columbia. The firm of Cushing, Newbury Port, will prob-

100 The Klamath. For the different spellings of the name, see Frederick V.
Holman, History of the Counties of Oregon, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. XI :SS. Clamet
was the spelling given in Elijah White's "Ten Years in Oregon."

174 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ably send out one vessel each year.^''^ The firm of A. G. &
A. W. Benson, No. 19 Old slip, New York, will probably
send one vessel each six months. Should you send by any
vessel direct to either Br. Johnson or myself, Oregon City,
Oregon Territory, to the care of E. O. Hall, Financier of the
A. B. C. F. M., Honolulu, Oahu Island, and pay the freight,
he will forward such packages or boxes to us.

Yours,
EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — It is due to Br. Johnson to state that his family has
suffered much with the camp fever'^^ since their arrival in
this place, but through a kind Providence their lives are all
spared and their health is gradually returning. Sister J. is
beginning to take the charge of the family. We design fixing
our families near this place the coming season, sustaining
preaching regularly each Sabbath, traveling as much as we
can and searching out the scattered sheep.

Tuallity Plains, Tuallity Co., Oregon, April 17, 1846.
Dear Br. Hill:

I have just learned that the return party to the States will
leave Oregon City on Monday. It is now late at night, and
my last chance for sending is early tomorrow morning. I can
therefore do nothing more than sketch a few lines in the
greatest haste. The mercies of God are still passing before
us, giving us life and health as a family. We find presented
almost daily opportunities of contributing to the formation of
the moral character of the people of our Territory. Yet we
find everything so dissimilar to anything we ever experienced
that we often feel placed almost beyond religious privileges
as you are wont to enjoy them in the States.

101 F. W. Pettygrove, at Oregon City, had come out as agent of A. G. and
A. W. Benson in 1842. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:422. The firm of John and Caleb
Cushing of Newburyport had sent a ship to Oregon City as early as 1839 (it arrived
in 1840) and in 1846 another of their ships appeared in Oregon. H. W. Scott (ed).
Hist, of Portland, p. 86.

102 Camp fever was much like dysentery or typhoid fever. It was sometimes
called mountain fever. — George H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 175

The population as yet must, from the nature of the case, be
very sparse and, as the settlements are somewhat remote
from each other, it renders the labors of a missionary diffi-
cult, situated as we are at this time many thousands of miles
from home and with exhausted funds. We cannot reason-
ably expect any supplies from your Board for at least twelve
months. With these obstacles before us we do not despair,
but must be pained while we are obliged to minister to our
temporal wants temporarily, and hence limit greatly our field
of labour. I have pretty nearly concluded to teach a school
a few months, as soon as we get settled, as the most conveni-
ent method of promoting the moral and religious condition
of the people. I have just returned from the mouth of the
Columbia River. I find it an interesting part of the country,
and to all probability, should the emigration continue as we
have reason to anticipate, the commercial point for the Will-
amette Valley and a great portion of the Territory must be
located either where Astoria once stood or between that and
the mouth of the river. I found about thirty or forty log
cabins in this vicinity occupied by families and bachelors.
On the south side of the river about the mouth is a tract of
rich land large enough for a small county, susceptible of cul-
tivation, but mostly timbered. That portion now occupied
is mostly plains, and portions of the timbered land would be
more easily cleared and put under cultivation than most of
the timbered land in New York.^^^ ^^g climate is remark-
ably salubrious. Nothing but the small number of people
and the distance of this point from the present populous part
of Oregon will prevent me from fixing my family in this
vicinity and labouring from this point. Even now my con-
victions are so strong of the relative importance of this point
and of the probable future character of its population, that
I may in a few months deem it my duty to take my family to
that place.

103 The history of Astoria is too well Icnown to need repetition here. The
Clatsop Plains were apparently first settled by whites in 1840 when the Methodist
Mission established a station there. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:185.

This station was ordered sold out in 1844. Ibid. 1:221.

176 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I still preach on Sabbaths and visit only as I travel from
place to place.

Your Board may be desirous of knowing what will be nec-
essary to enable us to devote ourselves to the ministry. I
think that after fixing our location we can support the family,
should the Board see fit to make an appropriation of $150
or $200 the first year, and hope we may be blessed with favor
of the people so that we can afterward live on a less sum.
Should your Board make an appropriation for another year,
we wish you to put us up a box of the following articles and
pay for the same from the appropriation : 1 pair no. 9 thick
calf-skin boots ; 1 pair of calf-skin shoes no. 4, women's ; 2
pair of no. 3 shoes, boys' ; 2 pair of children's shoes for a girl
7 years old, and 2 pair for a girl 4 years ; 2 bolts of common
calico, dark coloured, worth 12 or 15 cents per yd; 10 yards
of Kentucky janes and 4 yards of black cassimere; 20 yards
of woolen linsey, plaid, for children's dresses ; 25 spools of
common sewing thread; 8 pounds of cotton batting; 1 cast
bake kettle, with lid, that will hold about ten quarts ; 1 large
octavo Bible and five or six spelling books. We are in an en-
tirely new country and have little or no crockery or cooking
utensils at any price. You will probably get the box on
board Mr. Benson's ship bound for the mouth of the Colum-
bia ; if not, direct to me as one of your missionaries, Oregon
City, Oregon Territory, to the care of E. A. Hall, Financier
of the A. B. C. F. M. at Honolulu, Oahu, one of the Sand-
wich Islands, and it will probably come safe.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Aug. 19, 1846.

Oregon City, Oregon Territory, Aug. 15th, 1846.
Dear Br. Hill:

I am at this time on a visit to this place with Mrs. Fisher
and to spend the Sabbath, and have just learned that Mr.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 177

Stark, supercargo of the Tulon/°^ leaves this place on Mon-
day morning, and I have but an hour to write and that too
in a visiting circle. I have many things to write, which I
intend to do before winter, but must dispense with order
at this time. We are all in tolerable health and presume Br.
Johnson's family are, although we have not yet seen them
since coming in town. You can have but little conception of
our feelings at the present. We find Oregon emphatically
presenting a most interesting field for missionary labor, but
quite dissimilar to any we have formerly occupied, and our
circumstances widely different. I wish you to be assured
that we are not at all inclined to complain of the allotments
of Providence. They are all in mercy. And it becomes us to
rejoice that we may endure hardness for the cause of Christ
so long as duty and necessity demand it. But rest assured,
dear brother, I tell you the sentiments of my inmost soul
when I say I have no desire to become secular when I see a
civilized nation (shall I say) bursting into existence on the
dark side of the globe, with a character entirely unformed
and less elevated than that of Iowa or Missouri, and removed
thousands of miles from the moral and religious influence of
old and established institutions of morality and religion.
Your means of communication are easy and direct throughout
the entire states and territories drained by the waters of the
Mississippi, and even through Texas ; but here we are, sepa-
rated by great mountain and desert barriers, or a voyage
of more than 20,000 miles by sea, surrounded by heathen near
at hand, by Romans all along the southern coast line, with
the isles of the sea waiting for the law of God and some in
the very act of receiving it. What can be done must be done
or our opportunities for doing as a denomination will be
largely lost. A country is now settled, at favoured points,
about as large as half the state of Illinois, and we are expect-
ing large accessions the coming fall. Then the most import-

104 The "Toulon," Captain Xathaniel Crosby, first carpe to Oregon from New
York in 1845. For a number of years beginning with 1846, it made trips from
Oregon to the Hawaiian Islands. Benjamin Stark, Jr., was supercargo. Bancroft,
Hist, of Ore. 11:16, 48.

178 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ant points will be seized upon with great eagerness, if it is
true, as we fondly hope, that the notice bilP^^ is passed by
both branches of our national legislature and become a law.
We see Romanism taking root in our soil and special effort
being made to secure the influence of the leading men in our
colony and to establish schools for the education of our
children and youth. We have already three churches, if they
may be called churches, '°^ and members favourably located
to organize two or three more ; besides, we must soon look
after more important interests than any already brought into
existence, or entirely leave the seaboard to others. My heart
bleeds at this view of things, while I find myself confined
in school as the best way temporarily to exert a limited in-
fluence while I provide my family with the present neces-
saries of life. With this state of things before us, we have
but three Baptist ministers in good standing in the
churches, ^°^ and the other two are more confined than myself.
We know your Board does not expect we will exhaust our
physical powers for the bread that perishes, and, were you
here to view things as they are, you would lift up your voice
in the churches till we were liberated from the necessity of
serving tables, or say, We will leave you to your ways, but
appoint more faithful laborers in this vineyard of our com-
mon Lord. You know what we have to expect from the first
emigrants from Missouri and Iowa. It is too much to expect
to be thrown into the bosom of affectionate churches who
sympathize with the faithful ministry and study to make his
labors delightful. ^°^ Men do not rejoice at the sound of the
gospel even here ; but we feel strongly assured that the time
is not far distant when all the discouragements peculiar to

105 The bill provided for twelve months' notice to Great Britain of the termi-
nation of the joint occupancy of the Oregon agreement of 1818. The news of the
passage of the notice bill did not reach Oregon until a number of days after this
letter was written. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. I :589.

106 These three Baptist churches were at West Union (Tualatin Plains'), La
Creole (Polk County), and Yamhill ( South Yamhill). Mattoon, Bapt. Annals of
Ore. 1:1-4.

107 The three Baptist ministers were Rev. Vincent Snelling, Rev. Hezekiah
Johnson, and the author. Mattoon, Bapt. Annals of Ore. 1 :43-50.

108 Baptists from these western states and territories were not yet accustomed
to supporting the ministry of the church.

REVEREND EZ^RA FISHER. 179

a new country and an extremely fluctuating population will
give place to the order and efficiency which the gospel of
Christ so forcibly inculcates. At present I am teaching
school, as I have intimated, in Tuallity Plains, 25 or 26 miles
N. W. from this place, but greatly fear that my lungs will
not allow me to continue in that employment. I preach and
superintend a Sabbath school on the Sabbath, or preach and
visit abroad Saturdays and Sabbaths. Two weeks today and
tomorrow I assisted in organizing a small church near the
mouth of the Yam Hill River,'^^ and on Sabbath presented to
the public the peculiarities of our denomination in a sermon
of about an hour and at the close baptized a brother of some
talent who wished to prepare for the ministry. The three
churches now organized are most favorably located, being
organized so that their future place of worship must un-
avoidably be at the county seats of three important counties
on the Willamette River. But our brethren are in a new
country and have everything to do to render their families
comfortable, and have not been formerly trained to the prin-
ciples so happily carried out by our Pilgrim fathers in the
settlements of Plymouth and Boston. I preach every Sab-
bath. We have a Sabbath school, in connection with other
denominations, and Bible class consisting in all of about 2S
scholars and 5 teachers ; ten of the children are of Baptist
families, and three teachers. I superintend the school when
at home. Four days in June I attended a camp-meeting of
the Congregational Church in the upper plain ten miles from
my present residence and participated as much as my
strength would admit. Our labors were blessed, and it is
hoped that some ten or twelve souls were truly convert-
ed. .. .

Tell our brethren that tracts and Sunday school books are
greatly needed, and we feel that we cannot be denied this
request as soon as a package can be made up and sent. Our
brethren will not forget to send us files of religious periodi-

109 This was the church at South Yamhill, twelve miles or so from the mouth
of the river. Mattoon fails to mention the author's part in this organization, giving
only the names of Snelling and Johnson. Mattoon, Bapt Annals of Ore. 1:5.

180 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

cals. We have now been cut off from all the blessings of re-
ligious periodicals and literally shut out of the religious
world for 17 months except that we find occasionally an
angel visitor of this kind in a Pedo-baptist paper. We trust
it is our love for the cause of Christ in Oregon which has led
us to forego, with our young families, all these privileges.
Shall our wants meet with a response from the hearts and
hands of our brethren in the Atlantic states? We maintain
a weekly prayer meeting and Mrs. Fisher and our little
daughter, with two other young females not yet baptized,
sustain a weekly prayer meeting. I visit but little as a min-
ister, but embrace every opportunity I can for that purpose.
I must close this for want of paper and time, but hope I
shall be able to fill another sheet before the Tulon leaves the
mouth of the Columbia. If possible, we must have two good
Baptist teachers sent out from east of the Alleghany Moun-
tains immediately and I think they will find support. Re-
member us affectionately to our dear brethren in New York.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Feb. 5, 1847.

Tuallity Plains, Tuallity County, Oregon Ter.,

Aug. 19th, 1846.
Dear Br. Hill:

Since last writing, learning that the Tulon may be delayed
a few days at the mouth of the Columbia and being about
to visit Clatsop and the coast immediately north of the
mouth of the Columbia, I hope to be in time to forward you
another sheet. Consequently, I hasten to communicate an-
other letter. We returned from Oregon City on the 17th.
Found our family in usual health. . . .As it relates to the
character of our Baptist brethren with whom we have to
co-operate, they are mostly from the upper part of Missouri,
with a very considerable number of Baptists from Iowa.
. . . We have some few who have been accustomed to work
in prayer meetings and Sabbath schools and would like to

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 181

see the ministry devoted to their appropriate calling, but as
yet very little can be realized by way of ministerial support.
Yet I think the time is near at hand when the brethren will
take a gospel view of the subject and carry out the gospel
plan. We greatly need a few working brethren located at
favoured points for business and influence in Oregon. It is
not difficult to see where those points will be. Such breth-
ren as could engage in farming, lumbering, mechanic arts,
such as are indispensable to a new country, and in the sal-
mon fisheries will find that a small capital judiciously in-
vested, with industry, would soon enable them to rise to
competency and probably to affluence. I have never seen a
country where, at so early a period in its history, so many
avenues are opened to reward the industrious as are found
in Oregon. . . . We greatly need a few efficient brethren
who have formed their habits east of the Alleghany Range.
It is as easy for brethren to come by water direct to the
mouth of the Columbia, to Vancouvers Island or Pugets
Sound, which are certainly among the most favored points
in our country, as for the inhabitants of Missouri to cross
the Rocky Mountains by ox teams. The time has already
come when money or merchandise will buy neat stock at no
very extravagant prices in New York or Massachusetts.
Whoever can reach the Sandwich Islands will be able soon
to find a passage to the mouth of the Columbia.

I wrote you in my last that we greatly needed two good
teachers. My reasons are these: 1. I think they will un-
doubtedly be able to sustain themselves. 2. The Romans
are now very industrious in attempting to occupy every im-
portant point with a school. I was credibly informed that
a proposition was recently made by a priest to the proprie-
tors of Portland, the highest point which merchant vessels
reach on the Willamette, to build a church and establish a
permanent school in the place, if the proprietors would give
the site and pledge their attendance on the services of the

182 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Roman Church. ^^° A somewhat similar profifer has been
made to some of the settlers of the Clatsop Plains south of
the mouth of the Columbia, if my informant, a resident of
said Plains, is to be relied upon, and I think him a man of
veracity.

I have taught one quarter and probably I shall teach an-
other, commencing about the first of October, if my lungs
will allow me to teach and preach ; if not, I must abandon
teaching and find some other employment sufficient to sus-
tain my family till relief comes from your Board, should it
decide that a mission must be sustained here. Our Pedo-
baptist friends have very freely expressed to me the opinion
that I ought to have gone to Oregon City. But as the cir-
cumstances are and Br. Johnson seems desirous of remaining,
I have for months been decidedly of the opinion that I should
hold myself in readiness to make my home at or near the
mouth of the Columbia, as soon as our brethren in this re-
gion will give their consent and Providence opens the door.
I rejoice to be able to say that quite unexpectedly to me our
brethren are now adopting my views, and the probability is
that by next summer settlements will become sufficiently
extended on the coast to justify my removal to that point.
. . . We need men in Oregon who desire to magnify the
office of the ministry and love it more than all pursuits. We
need more ministers, but we shall doubtless be better able
to say what the character and qualifications should be after
the arrival of the forth-coming emigration ; volunteer min-
isters will probably come then and we shall then probably
have an opportunity of writing you by way of the Sandwich
Islands. We shall probably need one more at least in the
Willamette Valley, one at Vancouver and one in the neigh-
borhood of Pugets Sound before you can commission and
send them out. The coast and Vancouver will probably be
peopled with an enterprising and intelligent people.

110 There seems to be no other record of this offer. If it was ever made it
was not accepted. The first Catholic chapel was not erected in Portland until
1851, and not until 1859 was the first Catholic school opened in Portland. Hist,
of Portland, Ore., ed. by H. W. Scott, pp. 348, 394.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 183

I think Br. Johnson and myself will need $200 cash another
year to enable us to devote ourselves to the work, and,
should we place ourselves so as to stop our rents and keep
a little stock, perhaps we can live with that by subjecting
our families to taking charge of our little temporals. Prob-
ably one half of that in such goods as families need in wear-
ing apparel and articles of furniture would be as convenient
for us as the money, and, by this means, your Board may
sustain its missionaries by the assistance of friends who
would cheerfully contribute wearing apparel when money is
out of the question.

Received Feb. 5, 1847.

Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon Ter., Jan 4th, 1847.
Dear Brother Hill:

Being in daily expectation that the ship Tulon will leave
the mouth of the river for the Sandwich Islands, I embrace
this as the only opportunity I shall have till spring to address
you by letter, and this will not reach you for eight or ten
months, if ever.

Through the tender mercies of God, we are all in good
health, except that I am confined to the house with a wound
received from an axe in my foot last week. The wound,
however, is doing well and will probably heal in two or
three weeks. I will here remark that we probably have one
of the most salubrious as well as mild climates in the world.
But I have taken my pen for other purposes than to give a
description of climate and soil and the beauties of the scen-
ery. We have chosen this as our field of labor, should God
graciously please to spare our unprofitable lives, although
at present the population of the place and vicinity is small.
This I have done from a strong conviction that the coast
must soon become the most important part of the countr\'
and that, too, probably as soon as we shall be so situated as
to be able to do much permanently for the cause. We feel
a strong assurance that we shall soon enjoy a stability of

184 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

government which will give an impulse to emigration and
commerce, and we trust that in the emigration we shall fmd
some who care for the cause of Christianity and will co-
operate with us for the promotion of the Kingdom of Christ
on these shores. We have three Baptist sisters about ten
miles from us on the Clatsop Plains, who have moved there
since we came to this place, with whom we had a slight ac-
quaintance in the States.^ '^ We are in expectation of other
members in the spring or summer, and hope by that time to
constitute a feeble church in this county. If we shall be able
to do this, and to awaken in the community an interest in
substituting religious order on the Sabbath for visiting, hunt-
ing and transacting worldly business, we shall feel that we
have not lived in vain in Oregon. We feel the strongest
conviction that ours is a very important position, although
at present we labour under the greatest inconveniences of
any of your missionaries. Your Board is my witness that
I have not in years past made the privations of a missionary
the burden of my communications with you. The duty I
owe to Him who bought us with His own blood and ever
lives to intercede in our behalf, as well as the relation I sus-
tain to the Home Board of Missions and to our new and
promising Territory, demands of me, however humiliating
the task, a disclosure of facts. Before I proceed, I will state
that to me, and I doubt not to the other two Baptist minis-
ters labouring in Oregon, the work of the ministry is desir-
able above all other works, and I know of no field for which
I have any desire to abandon Oregon. But what can a man
do without his bread and his tools? To be sure, under the
most adverse circumstances, something may be done for God
every day, but we know it is not God's plan that Zion's
teachers shall be removed into a corner, but that they shall
be brought into sight and hearing, that she may hear the
word : "This is the way, walk ye in it." We are all, as
Baptist ministers, driven to the necessity of going to secular

111 These were Mrs. Robinson and her two daughters, Mrs. Motley and Mrs.
Thompson.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 185

pursuits to give our families food, and but very insufficient
raiment.

As a people, we are a colony removed far from all civiliza-
tion and commerce, except what the small surplus products
of our country attract. The consequence is a monopoly in
commerce very oppressive to the community. Our settlers
are generally industrious, and, should the Government grant
them their lands, they are laying the foundation for wealth
despite the temporary monopoly in trade with which they are
oppressed. ^^- As before stated, we have very few Baptist
brethren who have been accustomed to see a minister sus-
tained by the church, and those few are scattered so as to
prevent anything like a systematic effort to aid in the sup-
port of the ministry. They love the gospel sound and delight
in its ordinances, but ministers must travel far from settle-
ment to settlement to preach. This creates a large tax on
the time of the man who must leave the word of God and
serve tables. Added to this, the rainy season five or six
months in the year renders the roads in this new country
very difficult to travel, and, when we travel by water, we
have to go in open boats and sleep in the open air, perhaps
in wet blankets, after rowing all day in the rain. These diffi-
culties might and would be overcome were our hands liber-
ated and our family cares abated. With the improvement of
the country, the difficulties of traveling will soon be over-
come, and are now probably as few as might reasonably be
expected. . . . Our white American population now num-
bers nine or ten thousand souls scattered over a territory
more than two hundred miles from Pugets Sound and this
place to the headwaters of the Willamette, and is aided in
science, religion and morals by only one printing press, and
that issues a semi-monthly half sheet. ^i^. Its proprietors

112 Probably a reference to the Hudson Bay Company, which did most cff the
shipping at this time. — George H. Himes.

113 This was the Oregon Spectator which first appeared Feb. 5, 1846, under the
editorship of W. G. T'Vault. H. 8. Lyman, Hist, of Ore. IV:279. The spelling
book was published Feb. 1, 1847. There were 800 copies, none of which are known
to be extant in their complete form. The book was an abridgment of Webster's
Elementary Spelling Book, about two-thirds the size of the original. Geo. H. Himes,
Hist, of the Press in Oregon, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. 111:347.

186 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

have lately resolved to strike off 200 copies of Webster's ele-
mentary spelling-book somewhat abridged. You can form
some estimate of our poverty and want. Probably not one
family in three in the Territory has a spelling-book. I have
no doubt men would gladly have paid one dollar per copy for
spelling books for their children in the school which I taught
last summer, but there was not a spelling-book at any price.
We have a few Sunday school books sent out from New
York. I suppose by Messrs. Benson and Co., or by benevo-
lent friends, which have been of great value to the children
and youth as far as enjoyed ; and we have a few volumes of
the publications of the American Tract Society and some
tracts sent to Rev. Mr. Griffen, a Congregationalist.^^^.

Our Methodist brethren are doing something towards sup-
plying some of the children with juvenile books, their Sun-
day School Advocate, their hymn books, and some Bibles
and Testaments; but all this is a very small fraction of what
is greatly needed. I have not seen a Baptist periodical from
the States for more than 20 months. I have omitted to men-
tion that the country is almost destitute of all suitable ele-
mentary school-books and juvenile reading. It would do
your heart good to see the eagerness with which a periodical,
a tract or Sunday school book is seized upon and read by a
large portion of our citizens. For example, when our eldest
daughter of fifteen years, being engaged to teach a quarter,
was sent for,^!^ ^ request came for hymn-books and any other
suitable books so that they could have a Sunday school dur-
ing her stay, and I had nothing but a few copies of the Di-
vine Songs and a few tracts to send. Cannot our request be
responded to, so that as missionaries we may be supplied
with suitable tracts and juvenile books of the American Bap-
tist Publication Society, with a fair proportion of the former
exposing the evils of Romanism, and others vindicating our
denominational peculiarities; also some Bibles and Testa-

114 This was probably Rev. J. S. Griffin, who came to Oregon in 1839 (Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 1:238), sent by the North Litchfield Association of Connecticut.

115 This school was at Skipanon, near Warrenton, in Clatsop County. — Geo. H.
Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 187

ments? I know there would be an effort made, if our breth-
ren in the States were to feel our wants as we daily feel
them. Imagine yourself and family of children surrounded
by heathen and daily under their influence, and at the same
time Romanism uniting its influence with heathenism to
bring into disrepute the simplicity of the gospel in a new
and isolated republic rising on the western borders of Ameri-
ca. Would you not plead for help?

Our brethren will not forget to send us files of some of
the religious periodicals, as well as the annual reports of the
missionary and other benevolent societies. So far as these
auxiliaries are concerned, we famish in a dry and barren land.
When I left the Western states I sold and gave away a
large portion of the few books which composed my library
because they were too heavy to transport across the Rocky
Mountains, so that now when I would consult a commentary
or some of the standard writers of the last and present cen-
tury on the great truths of the gospel, I seriously feel my
need. My library consists principally of Mosheim's Church
History, Home's Introduction, Buck's Theological Diction-
ary, Butterworth's Concordance, a Greek Testament and Lex-
icon and Wayland's Moral Science. One of our ministering
brethren on the Willamette has Fuller's Works and Mc-
Knight on the Epistles. As ministers we greatly need a few
books, and, could any valuable ones be sent, they would be
thankfully received. De Aubin's History of the Reforma-
tion^'^ would probably be an invaluable work here. We have
consumed most of our available means, and find ourselves
placed in the strait of involving ourselves in debt or provid-
ing with our hands the bare necessaries of life, not knowing
how soon we shall get any communications from you. I have
received a few presents from two of our brethren here and a
few from some friend, amounting perhaps in all to thirty dol-
lars.

We are living, and have lived ever since we came to the'
country, except for about five weeks, in a rude log cabin

116 Not De Aubin, but D'Aubigne (1794-1872).

188 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

without a single pane of glass. Our furniture consists of
three chairs, three stools, a small pine table about two feet
by three, two old trunks which have traveled with us about
20 years, and a very few cooking utensils which we have
brought with us or obtained at exorbitant prices. We have
two tea cups and four saucers ; more are not to be obtained
in the country at any price. Most articles of clothing and
furniture, when they can be obtained, are three or four times
the price they are in the States. We have neither fire shovel,
tongs nor andirons, but a common barn shovel. We often
think, if we had a few of the most commonly indispensable
articles of household furniture and could provide our chil-
dren with the most coarse but comfortable apparel so that
we could meet the many pressing and important calls for
ministerial labor all over the country in all the varied rela-
tions of our calling, we should be happy.

Our Territory is needing the labors of at least five or six
devoted Baptist missionaries. The time has come when we,
as a denomination, must have men in the field, or other men
will gather the harvest. Our Methodist brethren are now
sustaining five or six missionaries in the settlements, and at
this very moment, had we the men and means, our denomina-
tional views are as favorably received as any other. Brother
Snelling is a worthy brother, and would gladly wear himself
out in the ministry, but for the pressing cares of his family.
Brother Johnson is doing what he can at Oregon City and
vicinity. My labors will be principally confined to this coun-
ty, unless we are so liberated from secular cares as to enable
me to spend a portion of the time in traveling through the
settlements now forming on the Chehalis and at Puget
Sound, '^'' as well as the upper settlements. Should the set-
tlement of the Oregon question be w^hat we anticipate, we
shall greatly need a missionary stationed at Puget Sound be-
fore you can commission a suitable man and send him to the
field. And should Upper California remain under the United

117 See note 220 for the early settlements on Puget Sound. The upper settle-
ments were probably those in the Willamette V^alley.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 189

States government, a missionary will be greatly needed at
San Francisco Bay immediately upon the settlement of the
Mexican War. It is my deliberate opinion that missionaries
in whom your Board can confide should be appointed and
sustained till by God's blessing an interest shall be awakened
sufficient to sustain itself, and can afiford assistance to the
surrounding country. This whole country and Upper Cali-
fornia are emphatically missionary grounds, and our relation
to the whole Pacific Coast and the half of the globe in our
front demands prompt and faithful action. If our position
excites so much interest in the political and commercial
world, ought not the churches to turn the eye in this direc-
tion and ask: Have we no interest in all these movements?
Whatever God has in store for our majestic River and our
spacious and safe harbors on the Pacific, one thing is now re-
duced to a demonstration : We must become a part of the
great North American Republic. It remains for the Chris-
tian churches of that Republic to say whether our territory
shall prove a blessing or a sore curse to the nation. Shall
the needed help be denied us? As a people, we are in the
most helpless infancy; the power of the gospel of our ever
blessed Saviour must be exerted to bind this legion and
drive it into our mighty Pacific, or we shall be abandoned,
the prey of the worst of spirits and the basest of passions.
Dear brother, it is far beyond the power of language to de-
scribe the blessings of the gospel. While we. almost isolated
and faint, pray and labor and look with longing eyes toward
the parent land, shall we not see this bow of promise hang-
ing over our eastern skies : "The Lord will send deliverance
out of Zion"? No doubt the time is near at hand when the
facilities of communication will be greatly multiplied and a
direct mail route will enable us to correspond directly two or
three times a year, ^^^ and vessels will be monthly leaving
this place for the States and bearing cargoes directly from
the States in return. We wait v.'ith patience for these

lis For a time in 1846 direct mail service had been established with Weston,
Mo., at the rate of fiftv cents a sinele sheet, but this was discontinvied after nine
months. Ceo. H. Himes, History of the Press in Ore., Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. 111:343.

190 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

changes. We feel that we are passing through a crisis in the
history of the country, and ask God for grace that we may
be brought through without repining at His providences.
We feel a strong conviction that the time is near at hand
when God will enlarge Zion on these shores, and we shall
enjoy all the blessings of civilization and Christianity for
ourselves and our children.

I preach every Sabbath, although the number living in our
place is as yet very small. I shall probably divide my labors
between this place and Clatsop Plains, in the opening of the
spring. I have spent most of my time the last two months
in building a small frame house, and have it now almost en-
closed, and shall probably soon move into it.'^^ We shall
then open a small Sunday school of the few children we have
in the place. We feel pretty strong convictions that we shall
make this region the field of our future labors, should God
permit, and this become the commercial point on this river,
which is very probable. We are waiting with anxiety, how-
ever, to learn what the Government will do for this country;
you probably know at this time, or will before the rising of
congress. ^-° I have written you five or six times since our
arrival in the country, and two or three times on our way,
but have not yet had a single line from you. Will not a box
of clothing be sent to aid Brother Johnson and myself in
clothing our families? Second-handed clothing and coarse,
too, will be very valuable to us. You can have no conception
of how thankfully it would be received, or of the difficulty
of obtaining clothing in this country. I know positively that
our families would rejoice exceedingly, if they had the old
clothes which are regarded useless by hundreds of our breth-
ren in the old States.

I have repeated the request for books and clothing through
fear that any former letters may have never reached you. I

119 This house was used as a post office by John M. Shively, who was one
of the first two U. S. postmasters appointed for Oregon (1847). Bancroft, Hist.
of Ore. 1:614. A picture of the house was in the Oregon Daily Journal, Dec. 31,
1909.

120 It may be that the author had not yet heard of the final settlement of the
Oregon boundary, which was made in the summer of 1846.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 191

know it will afford many a sister pleasure to collect a few
comforts for those of us who are laboring in these ends of the
earth. We make not these appeals because we think we
could not meet the wants of our families, should we give our-
selves entirely to secular pursuits. But this we cannot do.
God will have His ministers feel a necessity laid upon them
and a woe too, if they preach not the gospel. We very much
expect to hear from you in the spring, so that we can feel
relieved in spending the dry season strictly as missionaries.
We ought to visit every large settlement and hold a meeting
of two, three or more days, and gather up the scattered sheep
and feed the lambs. But I must desist. My heart is full of
the wants of our country. May God give us grace to do His
will. You can send any boxes or letters on board any vessel
that passes the Sandwich Islands, directing all such packages
to me at this place to the care of E. O. Hall, Financier of the
A. B. C. F. Missions at Honolulu, Oahu or Wahoo.

Your unworthy brother and fellow laborer in the gospel
field,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Let us have an interest in your prayers and the
prayers of all those who mourn over the desolations of sin,
that the richest blessings of the gospel may be poured out
upon Oregon.

Received Julv 13.

Astoria, Oregon Territory, April 2nd, 1847.
Dear Brother Hill :

I wrote you three sheets by the Tulon in January, making
known in some measure the wants of our country west of
the mountains, and directed it by way of the Islands, but
after writing. Captain Crosby determined to take a cargo of
flour to the American squadron at San Francisco Bay.^-^ The
package may be a year in reaching you, and it may be that

121 This was. of course, the Pacific squadron which had helped in the American
occupation of Califorriia in this and the preceding year. Bancroft, Hist, of Cal.
V, passim. Captain N. Crosby was prominent in the history of early Oregon ship-
ping. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:26.

192 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

he made over his letters for the States to the war ship which
was dispatched to take Captain Howison to the States to
account for the loss of the Schooner Shark. ^" It is possible
that you will receive it in two or three months, but, through
fear of a long delay, I shall repeat some of our obstacles in
the promotion of the cause of Christ in Oregon. By the
abounding grace of God we are alive and in good bodily
health ; yet our remote situation from the seat of operations
of American churches, together with our temporal embarrass-
ments, and the inconvenience of reaching the remote settle-
ments, both as it relates to the time employed and the ex-
pense of traveling, has compelled me to confine my labors
to the few people in Clatsop County. The winter has been
extremely severe, and to human appearances Providence has
frowned upon my attempts temporal.

We moved to this place last fall, as probably possessing
the most favorable indications of future usefulness, and with
pretty strong encouragement that we should be joined by
other Baptist friends this spring. But the severity of the
winter, which has been destructive to cattle in this place and
to the wheat already in the barns, probably determined our
Baptist friends otherwise. My cattle, which were more than
twenty head in the fall, are now reduced to two, and I feel
myself compelled to remove to Clatsop Plains on the coast
immediately south of the mouth of the Columbia, but cut oflf
from this place by Young's Bay, three miles in width, as the
most probable place of sustaining my family by my own
hands and at the same time sustaining a small congregation ;
our daughter Lucy Jane Gray can have a small school part
of the time, and a small Sabbath school may probably be
sustained during the year. In the meantime we hope that
the day is not far distant when we shall have such relief sent
us from your Board as will enable me to reach more remote
portions of the settlements and devote my whole time to the
appropriate duties of a gospel minister.

122 The "Shark" was wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia, Oct. 10, 1846.
Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:587.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 193

In the abstract, I think this county presents as much pres-
ent prospect of permanent usefulness as any part of the
country, if we except the immediate vicinity of Oregon City
and the country accessible from that point. We feel a strong
confidence that the first national work by way of fortification
and the facilitation of navigation must be done at this great
outlet of travel and commerce, and but a few months will be
sufficient to decide this.^^-' I cannot therefore think of leav-
ing this point, unless the seat of commerce should be fixed
at another point and Providence should plainly indicate a
more advantageous situation. We have three Baptist sisters
[married] in Clatsop Plains and there is a general desire
manifested that we shall remove there for the present. I
learned by Captain Kilborn of the Brig Henry that he had
sent a letter for me to the Willamette Falls (Oregon City).
I suppose it is from your pen, but have not had the satisfac-
tion of seeing it. Rest assured we wait with great anxiety
some communication from you. At present we have here
only two American families besides my own, and a few
bachelors, and besides the Hudson Bay Company's servants,
and it is not probable towns will improve much in Oregon
beyond the absolute necessities in business transactions,
should our Government make grants of lands to the first
settlers and require each family to reside for a term of years
on his land to perfect his title.

I have received no direct communication from Brother
Johnson since I left Tuality Plains, but occasionally hear
from him. I can assure you that to all human appearances
our usefulness would be increased ten fold were we only
placed in such circumstances as Ave were in the Great West-
ern Valley, and yet our labors as ministers are as greatly
needed as they ever were in the JNIississippi Valley. O, how
blighting to the Christian graces is this secularizing of the
ministry ! Surely no minister who values holiness of heart

123 The first defensive works at the mouth of the Columbia were begun in
1863. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:510. No work on the channel was done until
much later.

194 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

and desires the enlargement of the Redeemer's Kingdom on
the borders of idolatry and Romanism, can do otherwise than
exercise the deepest regret at the necessity of consuming his
precious time and attention in providing but partially for
animals wants. Such at present must unavoidably be our
condition unless aid come from some quarter. Our few
churches are but partially organized and need frequent visit-
ing and instructing, and to see practically demonstrated the
utility of a devoted ministry, that they may appreciate it
and put forth laudable efforts to sustain it. We feel a strong
confidence that all necessary relief would be forthcoming
with many and prevailing prayers, could our liberal brethren
stand by and see us as we go to our daily labor with almost
all the spiritual needs in their pressing importance urging
themselves upon us, yet neglected. I do trust that another
summer will not leave Brother Johnson and myself in a still
more straitened condition than we were the past, but this
must be the case with myself, unless some kind providence
shall bring relief from your Board. Were we placed in other
circumstances, where religious knowledge is generally dif-
fused through the press and adapted to all, from the child
of two years to the hoary-headed saint and the veteran sin-
ner, I might be justified in being less importunate. . . .
but where all depends upon the efificiency of the ministry
to bring before the infant churches the doctrines, the ordi-
nances, the precepts and examples of the gospel, we ought
to be given wholly to the work. We covet not this spiritual
exile because it is to be preferred to all those pleasing asso-
ciations which daily bring to your door the triumphs of the
gospel from the four quarters of the globe, and that habitual
enjoyment of elevated Christian society which is to be en-
joyed in all the older parts of our country. But we have
chosen our position and chose the sacrifice with the hope
that under the blessing of God and by the aid of those more
highly blessed with temporal and spiritual gifts, we might
become both His servants and their servants in shedding
abroad God's gifts in these benighted ends of the earth. It

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 195

will be two years the twelfth of the present month since we
left the field of our former labors. With it we cheerfully re-
linquished the prospect of enjoying those almost inestimable
privileges of religious publications of all description, as we
supposed, for one year, hoping that a few months after our
arrival we should occasionally be greeted by those welcome
visitors. But Alas ! the Mexican war and the infrequency of
arrivals by water direct from our eastern ports has held us
in banishment up to this present. When I look to the people
and see them left in ignorance of all the great religious move-
ments in the world, except for a few packages sent to the
Methodist and Presbyterian missions, my feelings are often
left to wander between despair and that indifiference occa-
sioned by the care and fatigue incident to meeting our tem-
poral needs. Our whole country is oppressed by an excessive
monopoly of our merchants, so that most of the people are
unable to meet the pressing wants of their families. If they
could sit down at night as they come in from their daily
labor, take up a religious periodical and read their half-clad
families some interesting accounts of the triumphs of grace
over depravity instead of meditating and teaching the prin-
ciple of revenge, how would the family circle be cheered and
the lovv'ering cloud of our Western solitude be dissipated !
The question is settled that Oregon is destined to be num-
bered among the states of our great American Republic ; the
scenes of our early sufferings and privations will soon be
known only as they are engraved on the memory of the suf-
ferers, or recorded on the pages of history. A brighter day
is before us and we fancy that we already descry the first
dawning light breaking over the tops of the eastern moun-
tains. W^e must look to the older and more gifted states to
aid in giving us a religious as well as a political and com-
mercial character. Will not our Baptist churches aid in this
work? Romanism is making strong attempts at planting
deep its root in Oregon soil and availing itself of every inef-
ficient efifort of Protestantism to bring into disrepute the vital
godliness of both it and its ministry. So long as our min-

196 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

isters are unsustained, the priests herald the stereotyped re-
proach through the community, both savage and civilized :
"These men are not ministers. See, they work and trade
and live like other men. We are the founders of schools
and are always ready to minister to your afiFlictions and care
for your souls."

Can there be some method devised whereby we can have
forwarded several numl^ers of some good religious periodicals
of our own denomination, and some of the publications of the
A. B. Publication Society adapted to Sunday schools and to
vindicating our own denominational peculiarities and breath-
ing a spirit of devotion and Christian philanthropy? Books
of all kinds are eagerly sought for and Sunday schools can
easily be sustained where ten or twelve children can be found
sufficiently contiguous. I have several times written relative
to the best and cheapest way of sustaining your missionaries
in Oregon. Such is the feeble and scattered condition of the
settlements that your missionaries must be sustained princi-
pally from your Board, or they must sustain themselves. Yet
there is great hope that a few years will change the aspect of
things in this respect. When the people once see the happy
effects of a devoted ministry, they will cheerfully contribute
to its support, and be blessed in so doing. When the time
comes that a fair competition in trade takes the place of op-
pressive monopoly, industry will probably be as amply re-
warded in this as in any other part of the nation, and we all
hope that day is near. None but those who have experienced
it can tell the inconveniences and privations of a new coun-
try so far removed from civilization. But really our early
settlers have performed their part nobly, and are still con-
tending undismayed with obstacles which would be regarded
almost unsurmountable in the old states. On arriving here
the few people of this country were all poor and for the past
three years they have brought almost all their breadstuff
125 miles in canoes and open boats, making a trip in 10 or
15 days and camping out in the open air through all their

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 197

journey ;^^^ these journeys are often performed in the dead
of winter while the rain is falling every day; all groceries
and store goods are obtained in this way, except such as
are purchased off of ships. The people have just put in
operation a mill sufiticient to meet the home demand, and the
days of privation are fast passing by. Now the actual ex-
pense of living in Oregon, with half the comforts of life, is
twice as great as it is in the western states, and how to
meet these expenses of your missionaries is the question to
be considered. Articles of clothing are exceedingly difficult
to be obtained here. Sisters of the churches could make up
clothing or send the articles unmade, or even half-worn
clothing, such as is laid by, and would contribute largely to
our wants. They would probably thus provide for us with
great cheerfulness ; at the same time it would not at all di-
minish the annual cash contributions. You can have no con-
ception of the manner in which we are clad in our ordinary
business. We are still wearing old clothes which we had
laid aside as unfit for use in the AV'estern states, and have
purchased but a few of the most common articles, and those
of the coarse and substantial kind, when they could be ob-
tained. We still prefer to practice this kind of self-denial
to the abandonment of our enterprise, while we have the
hope left that we may be made instrumental in laying the
foundation of the cause of Christian civilization where it is
so much needed. We wish not to make the gospel an item
of merchandise, and I think both Brother Johnson and my-
self are willing to practice the most rigid economy for the
sake of carrying out the great object of our mission. As to
the amount necessary to sustain our families, you will be
able to judge by referring to the Methodist Board to find
what it costs them to sustain the families of their ministers
in this field. It may be proper to write a few lines relative
to the sufferings of the late emigration, which in far too
manv cases have been great, and in some cases perhaps with-

124 These were probably brought from Vancouver or Oregon City, and possibly
also from Portland.

198 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

out parallel in American histor}', and I fear it will be read
to the prejudice of future emigration. I believe all the errii-
grants who followed the usual roads to Oregon and Cali-
fornia arrived in good season and with good health and no
serious loss. It was only those companies who were either
desirous of finding a new and better route, or were induced
to follow imprudent and self-interested guides, who reaped so
bitterly disappointment and disaster and even starvation.
The greatest sufferers were probably a party who, before
crossing the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, left Mr.
Hastings who was conducting a part of the California emi-
gration. After travelling till all hopes of reaching the lower
company failed, a party of fifteen of the strongest, in at-
tempting to cross the snowy mountains, were compelled to
leave their animals and travel on foot almost destitute of
clothing and food. Such was their extremity before reaching
San Francisco Bay that eight perished, and the survivors
subsisted on the flesh and blood of those that perished, some
upon their own relatives. Five of the seven who reached the
settlements were women, and when they arrived they were
reduced to a perfect state of nudity. May these sufferings
prove an effectual warning to all successive emigrants to fol-
low none but explored and opened roads. '-^ A practical
wagon road is now opened from the States to the settle-
ments on the Willamette River, terminating at Oregon City,
where plenty of provisions can always be had at the ordi-
nary prices of the country. We trust we shall soon have
regular mails, at least quarterly, from this to the States ; and
then we can rely with some certainty on our packages being
safely carried to the place of destination. I have written you
every opportunity since I arrived in the Territor}^ but as
yet have had no letter from you.

I25 There is also probably a reference here to the party which in 1846 came
to Oregon via the southern route from Ft. Hall. This party suffered great hard-
ships while getting into the Willamette Valley from the Rogue and the Umpqua
Valleys. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. I :556-565.

For the hardships of the California partv, which are here not exaggerated, see
Bancroft, Hist, of Cali. V:529-542. The author mentions only the party called
the "forlorn hope." but a much larger party suffered somewhat similarly.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 199

You may judge by this that we are greatly discouraged,
but you may rely upon it that we entered this field expecting
to meet many privations. Our greatest embarrassment is
that we are doing so little for Him who has bought us with
His blood and we trust clothed us with His righteousness.
As ever yours, EZRA FISHER.

Received Sept. 6, 1847.

Clatsop Plains, Clatsop County, Ore., July 23. 1847.
Dear Brother Hill:

Your favors of October 26th and November 13th were re-
ceived June the 20th, and read with great pleasure, they be-
ing the first communications I have received from your pen
since I left Rock Island. 111., although I have written about
half a quire of paper to you. One letter, however, of yours
reached Oregon City; but our letters are all forwarded by
private conveyance, and it was lost. It was the one which
came on board the Brig Henry, Captain Kilburn, from New-
berryport.^"^^ The pamphlets and papers, which were sent
on board that ship, were also lost. But Brother Johnson
received his letter sent at the same time. The boxes of
goods which you forwardea on board the Bark Whiton, Cap-
tain Geleston,^27 ^yjij probably be here in two or three weeks,
and will be very gladly received, as we are brought to rather
straitened circumstances. In view of the small number of
inhabitants at Astoria and the difficulty of sustaining my
family there, we moved to these plains (Clatsop) about the
first of May last. This I did by the advice of our Baptist
friends in the Territory. Yet here we are compelled to
devote most of the week providing the bread that perishes.
Yet I think our position is as favorable to the promotion of
the cause of truth as any I could have taken in Oregon after
the one which Brother Johnson occupies. The future com-
merce of the country must pass within a few miles of us.

126 This was William K. Kilborn. The "Henrv" is a familiar figure in Oregon
history of this time. See Bancroft, Hist of Ore. 1:414, 679-80; 11:24, 43, 43.

127 Galston. not Geleston. For the return voyage of the "Whiton" see Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 1 :620.

200 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

and we feel strongly confident that a port of entry will be
established near the mouth of this majestic Columbia, and
other public works must necessarily go forward in our
county as soon as we have a territorial government organized
by the United States Congress. At present we have but a
small population in this county. In view of the time being
so near at hand when this must probably become a com-
manding point, I think you and the Board would approve of
my course, were you in Oregon to see and judge for me.
I am building a temporary log cabin this summer, which, to-
gether with raising my provisions, confines me at home. Yet
I intend by the help of God to spend four or five weeks in
the Willamette Valley the coming fall. When once we get
into our house, I could probably support my family with two
hundred dollars a year, with the industry of the family and
what I should receive from the people, and be able to devote
myself entirely to the ministry of the Word, should there be
any w-ay opened whereby 3'ou can with certainty make re-
mittances principally in articles of clothing and furniture
such as will be indispensable to our comfort. We trust the
time is near when the present difficulties under which we
labor will be obviated by the establishing of a regular mail
route across the mountains and by a frequent communication
by shipping from this place to New York and other Atlantic
ports. I trust before this the terms of a permanent peace
are negotiated between our nation and Mexico. O, when
will the adorable Prince of Peace forever terminate the hor-
rors of war ! I trust that tolerance to the gospel will be
gained to all the country which our nation may acquire, but
there is efficacy in our gospel to gain this victory at incom-
parably less expense, both of money and sufferings.

It is greatly to be regretted that we are situated so far
from your relief that we are obliged to leave our appropriate
calling to procure our daily bread, and I have often asked
the question why our hands must be bound when there is
so much to do for the cause of our Redeemer in Oregon. It
is not because the people refuse to hear the gospel from our

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 201

lips ; and God is my witness tliat it is not because I delight
in secular pursuits, at least while on every hand we see so
much need of the undivided, unremitted labors of a devoted
gospel ministry. But while we lie in this situation, other
denominations of Christians are beginning to lay a founda-
tion for future influence, and among them the Roman Catho-
lics are the most numerous and the best sustained by far.

We are in daily expectation of the arrival of a vessel
freighted with Roman missionaries, . priests, teachers, nuns
and missionary funds to the amount, it is said, of $130,000
to be expended in Oregon. Can we, must we labor five or
six days with our hands and then, when the Sabbath re-
turns, go worn down in body (and shall I say in spirit?) and
but half prepared to the place where God is to be publicly
worshipped and there meet the congregations and proclaim
to them the words of Eternal Life? But God is our helper,
and His promise does not fail. Even in these trying circum-
stances we often feel an assurance of the Divine presence in
the little groups to which we preach.

You request me to be specific in making my reports ac-
cording to the instructions contained in our appointments.
I must be honest in this matter. For the last six months my
labors have been principally confined to the Sabbath ; my
visits of a pastoral kind have been few. In our county we
have not sustained a prayer-meeting; but we are beginning
to make an efifort to sustain the monthly concert. On our
removal to these plains we immediately organized a Sabbath
school and Bible class in connection with the Presbyterians.
There are about twenty-five Sabbath school children and T
have a Bible class of about ten middle-aged and young men.
Mrs. Fisher and our daughter have each a class. We have
a small library of about thirty volumes and expect to obtain
an addition from books sent out by the Massachusetts S. S.
Society. We have made this temporary arrangement and
addressed the Corresponding Secretary of the A. S. S. Union,
soliciting a donation of books. Our Sabbath exercises are
conducted as follows: Preaching at 11 o'clock A. M; inter-

202 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

mission ; Sunday school, after which we spend about an hour
in singing.

Our plains extend from the mouth of the Columbia River
along" the beach south about fifteen miles, and for the sake
of our Sabbath school, we have deemed it expedient to meet
and preach with the Presbyterians, the Presbyterian minister
occupying one Sabbath and I the next, alternately.^-^ I
preached a few Sabbaths at 5 P. M. in the south part of
the plains, but it was soon found that a want of time com-
pelled us to abandon the evening preaching.

Our congregations are about fifty, on an average. We
have not yet taken any measures to organize a Baptist
church in this place, there being no male members but my-
self, yet we think we shall do something on that subject this
season. We meet in a little log school house, about 16 feet
square, in which my daughter teaches a small day school of
about 15 children. I have obtained no signatures to the tem-
perance pledge in the form in which you published it,^^^ but
the frequent instances of violation of the laws by introduc-
ing ardent spirits among the Indians and selling to the
Whites without license induced the settlers to call a meet-
ing, which resulted in every man but two or three signing
a pledge that we would hold our persons and property in
readiness to prevent the unlawful introduction and sale of
intoxicating spirits into our county. Little is drunk in the
county except by the Indians and a few Whites who are as
regardless of principle as the savages themselves. Perhaps
I can sa}^ with certainty that for the last four weeks we have
had more than usual attention to the preaching of the Word,
although we learn of no instances of hopeful conversion. We
feel a strong assurance that a great change externally has
taken place among the inhabitants of these plains within the

128 This Presbyterian minister was probably Lewis Thompson, a native of
Kentucky, who came to the Pacific Coast in 1846 and settled on Clatsop Plains.
P.ancroft, Hist, of Ore. II :680.

129 Temperance sentiment was strong in early Oregon. There was a prohi-
bition law from 1844 to 1846 and a large proportion of the population was in favor
of prohibition even after there was no law on the statute book to that effect. — Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 1:281, 437, 537-9; 11:37.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 203

last six months. A general desire to maintain good order in
society is apparent.

The people generally have not been accustomed to aid in
the support of the gospel, and as yet they have everything
to do to open their farms and provide their families with
clothing which would be regarded very indifferent, even on
the frontier territories east of the mountains. I find neigh-
bors kind, but it will require years to place them in even
comfortable circumstances. Consequently we cannot expect
much support immediately from the people. We have one
sister who has furnished us with more than half our butter
this summer. The people help me some in building my
house. _

On the subject of education our citizens manifest a very
laudable spirit. We should have erected a school house
suitable for a school and meeting house this summer but
for the extreme pressure of business to prepare for the com-
ing winter.

July 26. — I have just learned that the Brutus is to leave
the first favorable wind and Elder Geo. Gary^^o ^g to return
to New York on board with his wife. I therefore have but
a few minutes more to write, and much to write. I must
therefore close this package in a few minutes and carry
them ten miles, deliver today and return.

I have several times stated to you the sum with which
we could be sustained by taxing every power of economy,
and even parsimony, within our reach. But were we to be
liberated to devote ourselves as freely to the ministry as our
brethren in New England and New York, with all their aid
of deacons, deaconesses and pious, devoted lay members, it
would require a sum not less than from $400 to $600 per
year. And why should we not give ourselves wholly to the
work? Is it because the labors of a missionary in Oregon
are less important than those of a local pastor in the

130 Rev. George Gary came to Oregon in 1844 and was superintendent of the
Methodist Mission in Oregon, 1844-7. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:39, 218; 11: 677.

204 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

churches at home? Your Board and the churches wish to
hear the most cheering news of our success as ministers.
You wish our pens ably wielded in the description of the
country as it relates to its geography, physical resources,
natural history, manners and customs of the people, and in
short everything which will contribute to scatter light and
awaken an interest on the subject of our new' territory, and
all this is right. But how can this be done by men loaded
with secular cares and worn by daily labor to procure what
would be a poor subsistence in the States. If I have one
object for which I desire to live more than all others, it is
to see the cause for which Christ empoverished Himself
making the people of Oregon rich. That this may be done,
we must labor in every moral department which relates to
the well being of a new republic where vice rolls in like the
waves of the ocean.

i^;hope to be able to write a few more sheets which will
reach Elder Gary at the Sandwich Islands.

I wish you to forward me most of the amount appro-
priated for my support in such articles of clothing as we
shall order, as far as practicable. A few dollars in money
seem indispensable, perhaps twenty, which you will probably
send in gold or silver in the box of goods you send. Here-
after direct all boxes and packages for me to Astoria.

Please send us the following articles, as far as practicable
and in accordance with the directions of the Board :

Two bolts of good common sheeting, unbleached ;

Twelve yards of good bed ticking;

Two webs of good common calico, dark colored ;

Twenty yards of linsey for children's winter dresses :

Two pairs of women's calfskin shoes, suitable for an Ore-
gon winter. No. 4;

Two pairs of good slippers. No. 4;

Two pairs of stout calfskin shoes, men's, No. 9, suitable
for winter rains ;

Two pairs of boys' shoes, stout, Nos. 3 and 4;

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 205

Two pairs girls' shoes, Nos. 1 and 2;

Two pairs of girls' shoes, Nos. 12 and 13, little children's
numbers ;

Twenty or twenty-five yards of Kentucky Janes;

One dark shawl of worsted, or some kind of woolen text-
ure, adapting the price somewhat to our income ;

One dress coat black cloth ; I think no doubt that one
which would fit you will fit me, but guard against ex-
penses ;^^^ let it be substantial, but it may be much coarser
than would be called for in your cit}- ;

Ten yards of satinet ;

One dollar's worth of good spool thread ;

One card of shirt buttons ;

Hooks and eyes, pins, sewing needles ;

Two fine combs ;

50 cents' worth of tape, sewing silk, pants and vest but-
tons ;

1 pair of cheap fire shovel and tongs ;

1 pair of plain andirons ;

One cheap set of teacups and saucers ;

Six common dining plates, four bowls ;

One spider, called skillet in the West, for frying meat ;

One pair of silver set spectacles ;

15 or 20 pounds of cofifee ;

One two-quart pitcher, plain ;

Two cheap linen table cloths, white.

Give my thanks to Br. Everts for the Bible Manual. Br.
Johnson has received his.

I am now on board the Brutus and in great haste. Elder
Gary has engaged to deliver these sheets in person and will
probably give you some interesting descriptions of the state
of things generally in Oregon.

I will just say that I have received a letter from a Brother

131 It was the frequent custom of the author, in ordering from the East, to
specify that the clothes should fit Rev. Benjamin Hill, as the two were about the
same size.

206 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Ross,^-'^ a member of Br. Evert's church, who is in CaH-
fornia. He is engaged in a Sabbath school at San Francisco
Bay, and strongly solicits ministerial aid. From all the in-
formation I can receive, I am of the opinion that a faithful
missionary or two should be sent to California immediately
on the receipt of the intelligence that it is added to the
United States. I am.

Yours as ever,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at the Mouth of the Columbia River.

Should you have opportunity to forward any boxes or
packages to the Islands and not directly to this place, you
can direct to me to the care of E. O. Hall, Financier for the
A. B. C. F. Missions at Honolulu, Oahu. and pay the freight
and they will probably reach me in safety.

Received Jan. 17, 1848.

Clatsop Plains, Oregon, Oct. 20th, 1847.
Rev. and Dear Br. Hill:

The Bark Whiton being about to sail for N. Y. in a day
or two, I take this opportunity to address you a line, which I
trust will reach you in three months, as Captain Gelston
proposes crossing the Isthmus and sending his ship around
the Cape.

The two boxes of goods which you forwarded me on the
Whiton were duly received, and the accompanying letters.
I have delivered half the Bibles and Testaments, pamphlets
and periodicals, and half of the goods which you forwarded
to me, without my order, to Br. Johnson. . . .

The Bibles, Testaments, periodicals and reports were most
gladly received and read with eagerness not only by myself
and family, but by the surrounding community. They
seemed to transport us to the shores of civilization and the
regions of Christian enterprise, after years of seclusion. I

132 This was Charles L. Ross, who came by sea to California in 1847. He was
prominent in San Francisco for a number of years as a merchant, landowner, and
public-spirited man. Bancroft, Hist, of Cal. V :704.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 207

carry with me a few tracts and religious periodicals each
Sabbath, and give away the tracts and request the periodi-
cals to be returned for further circulation. I give away no
tract without enjoining upon the receiver the importance of
reading it.

Your letter of January 19th and 24th was received last
week, but the periodicals are still behind ; probably lost. I
have just returned from a tour of four weeks in the Will-
amette Valle3^ I found rather an interesting state of things
in Tualatin Plains. A gradual work of grace has been in
progress in those Plains since last June. Since last January,
Brother Vincent Snelling has baptized fifteen into the fel-
lowship of the church in that place, two of whom were the
fruits of a series of meetings held last year during my resi-
dence there. Some three or four more will be baptized next
month. Religious interests are wearing a more favorable
appearance on Yam Hill River and on the Rickreal. Two
have been added to the former church and others will prob-
ably unite soon with each of the above named churches.
The Methodists and Congregationalists in the Willamette
Valley have received some accessions. The Campbellites are
industriously engaged in making proselytes. We have no
unusual interest in this place and our congregations are
good for the number of people in the community ; and a
marked attention is given to the preaching of the Word. O,
that God would give me more of the spirit of my station !
We have not yet constituted a church in this place, and
shall probably delay organizing until spring, unless we
should see that the time has come to arise and build before
that time. We are having some accessions to our population
on the coast by the present emigration now arriving, and
somewhat expect one or more Baptist families to settle
with us.

Since the first of last August I have labored about half
of the time directly in the appropriate duties of the ministry,
and the remainder of the time in providing for the immediate
wants of my family ; preached 13 sermons : delivered two

208 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

lectures; attended one prayer-meeting; one covenant meet-
ing; visited religiously 20 families and 12 individuals; visited
no common schools ; baptized none ; obtained no signatures
to the temperance pledge ; neither assisted at the organiza-
tion of a church nor the ordination of a minister ; have taught
regularly a Bible class of 10 scholars, except four Sabbaths
of my absence ; distributed about 500 pages of tracts, 10
Bibles and 20 Testaments; traveled 450 miles to and from
my appointments; received no person either by letter or ex-
perience ; no cases of conversion in the field of my labor ; no
young men preparing for the ministry. The monthly concert
is not sustained in Oregon. My people have paid nothing for
missions, Bible societies or other societies ; for my support $5.
Connected with my labors is one Sunday school conducted
by Baptists and Presbyterians; 30 scholars and six teachers,
two of whom are Baptists ; and about 40 volumes in our
library. x\s soon as the opening of the spring we design es-
tablishing our preaching meetings and Sabbath school sepa-
rate.

I have repeatedly explained to you the reason of fixing my
location at the mouth of the Columbia at so early a date in
the history of the country. It is simply from its local im-
portance and not because we have a large population in our
vicinity at present. But our population is increasing gradu-
ually and are among the most intelligent and enterprising
of Oregon, and I am greatly mistaken if our population and
enterprise do not rapidly increase after next summer. I
think the commercial mart of our Territory must be at As-
toria, or near the mouth of the Columbia. My present plan
of operation is to spend the rainy season in this vicinity and.
during the best part of the year for traveling and collecting
congregations, spend two or three months in traveling and
preaching in the Willamette Valley till they are better sup-
plied with preachers , and. if time permits, to visit Pugets
Sound during the summer and, should our brethren settle
there, which they probably will the coming season, raise an
interest there, with the blessing of Him without whom we

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 209

can do nothing. This point and the Sound must become the
great commercial points in Oregon. We have now four
Baptist ministers in the Territory besides Br. Johnson and
myself who will probably settle in the Willamette Valley
above Oregon City^-^-' and, although they have not enjoyed
great advantages, they will probably be able to preach to the
churches now formed and sustain the religious interests, with
the assistance which Br. J. and myself can render them, till
other ministers shall arrive, if God goes with them. A large
portion of our Baptist members are from the upper part of
Missouri and have not been much accustomed to exercise
themselves in Christian enterprises, consequently it is too
much to expect that they immediately engage in Sabbath
schools and other benevolent efiforts with the facility and
perseverance of men trained from their youth in this kind
of work. Besides, many of them were just able to raise
means sufficient to bring their families across the moun-
tains and they have everything to do to give their families
a competent living. Yet we have some happy exceptions ;
may God greatly multiply this class. We have fixed upon
the third week in next June to organize an association and
trust by that time we shall have seven or eight churches to
go into that organization. I think Br. Vincent Snelling
ought to receive an appointment with a salary of $100 or
$150. He is a faithful, worthy brother. I informed him
that it would be expected that the churches which he sup-
plied would request the Home Missionary Society to assist
them in sustaining him and specify the amount they were
able to do. He manifested a reluctancy to lay the subject
before the churches, lest it might arouse some prejudice, as
the churches were not altogether missionary in their views.
I replied that I should be unwilling to constitute churches
which would be likely to excommunicate me for carrying out
the great principles of the gospel plan of salvation. Yet I

133 There are records of only three ministers — Rev. Vincent Snelling, Wm. Por-
ter, and Richard Miller — besides the author and Mr. Johnson. The fourth was
possibly Tames Rond, who was licensed but not ordained. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore.
I :43, 58," 59. Minutes of Willamette Bap. Assn. of Oregon, for 1848.

210 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

thought he was unnecessarily timid, and I should apprehend
no unpleasant consequences in presenting the subject in a
mild and attectionate manner. I leave the subject with your
Board, hoping on the whole that Br. Snelling may receive
your patronage. I can assure you he is a zealous, worthy
brother.

As it relates to California, I think our Board should spare
no time in finding a judicious, practical preacher to locate at
the most favorable point on San Francisco Bay. Our whal-
ing vessels and merchant and war ships are almost constant-
ly entering and leaving that Bay and, should our Govern-
ment retain Upper California, there must be places of im-
portance immediately springing up on that spacious harbor.
Br. Ross, a member of Br. Evart's church of your city, is
there, and perhaps he has already applied to you for a
minister.

Baptist peculiarities must be vindicated in Oregon. Our
Pedo-baptist and Campbellite neighbors are mooting the sub-
ject of baptism, and especially of communion. May we have
grace to present these subjects as gospel truths in the love
of the gospel of the Blessed Saviour.

Brother Johnson received a letter from you informing us
that the Board had voted to increase our salaries to $200
each, which I hope wnll enable us to give ourselves entirely
to the work, after three or four weeks which must be spent,
on my part, in rendering my house tolerable for the winter.

I wrote you in July by Elder Gary, on his return to New
York. (He will probably deliver the package in person.)
In those letters I ordered you to forward me some articles of
clothing and other articles. Should you receive this in sea-
son to forward a few other articles with the box before
ordered, you will please put up twelve yards of Canton flan-
nel ; fifteen yards of red woolen flannel ; six or eight pounds
of saleratus or pearlash — put it up in a box or jar; four
pounds of candle wicking; a tin reflector for baking bread; a
hat, cheap, substantial. 23V2 inches around the outside under

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 211

the band ; one set of Fuller's works bound in sheep. '^"^ I very
much need a commentary of the Bible, having disposed of
both of mine before leaving the States on account of the
transportation across the mountains, but I do not know but
I shall make my orders exceed my income. Put up also one
additional web of substantial dark calico. We hope the Bap-
tist Publication Society will forward us a few of their pub-
lications, such as exhibit the peculiarities of the denomination
and others of a devotional character, such as memoirs of emi-
nent Christians, as a donation, if they can. The people here
need religious reading. Probably some books of the above
named character might be sold. Can you not obtain and for-
ward us more tracts, as our stock will be exhausted before
we shall get returns from this?

My family are in good health. Indeed, we have had no
sickness on the coast with the whites since the settlement
of the country. Providence has given us one of the most
salubrious climes on earth. No doubt the whole Territory
is more healthy than any portion of the United States of the
same extent of territory. Although we have small districts
contiguous to inundated lands somewhat subject to bilious
attacks in the summer, yet no New Englander, or even any
person east of the Alleghany Mountains, has anything to* lose
in point of health in emigrating to Oregon.

I design spending some time next winter in giving you a
general description of the country — its physical resources, the
manners and customs of the people and the improvements
of the country in manufactures and commerce. At present,
however, I will only repeat substantially what I have more
than once written to my friends in the States, that, although
the face of the country below the Cascade range of moun-
tains is generally broken, except on the valleys of the rivers,
yet I think there is less waste land than is found in the same
extent of countrv in New England, and the soil will not suf-

134 The works of Andrew Fuller (1754-1815), a famous Baptist (English)
theologian. McClintock and Strong, Cys. of Bibl. Theol. and Eccl. Lit. 111:62.
The edition asked for was probably that published in Philadelphia, edited bj' Joseph
Belcher. O. A. Roorbach, Bibliotheca Americana, p. 209.

212 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

fer in comparison with that of New York, and portions of
this district probably equal the finest parts of the great West-
ern valley. Almost all our hill and mountain lands are rich
and almost entirely free from stone and it is generally be-
lieved that the timbered land will produce better than the
prairies when once it is cleared. The tim.ber, although of an
enormous growth, is generally so filled with balsam or pitch
that when green it is fallen by fire and, with comparatively
little chopping or piling, the fire consumes it; so that lan.l
may be cleared fit for the plough as easily in Oregon a.^ in
New York.

As far as my observation has extended, the lands bordering
upon the coast possess the richest, deepest soil and produce
the most abundantly where they are sufficiently level to be
cultivated. Few countries can be found in the world which
will produce vegetables in greater abundance, or of a more
delicious flavor, than the lands on the coast of Oregon so far
as they have been tested. Although little is known in the
state of Oregon except the far-famed Willamette Valley, yet
it is my opinion that the soil on the coast, wherever it is
sufficiently level for cultivation, will by far surpass that val-
ley in producing every kind of vegetable, and perhaps will
not be inferior to it in the growth of wheat. Oats and barley
flourish remarkably well on the poorest lands on the coast.
The whole coast country will undoubtedly become one of the
finest countries in the world for rearing cattle, horses and
sheep, when once its forests are removed and the grasses are
introduced. We only want our coast to be occupied with the
industrious, enterprising farmers of N. Y. and N. England
to make it one of the most desirable countries in the world.
The whole coast region is so tempered with ocean spray and
timely showers during the whole of the summer months that
it is almost entirely exempt from the severe droughts to
which the country is so much subject east of the Coast Range
of mountains.

The general impression has been made abroad that there is
little good land susceptible of settlement near the sea board.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 213

But I think it will be found that there is about as much good
land suited to farming purposes in the vicinity of the mouth
of the Columbia as there is in the vicinity of the Hudson
River. And bordering Pugets Sound, including Whitby's
and other islands, are many line tracts of very rich land well
adapted to agricultural purposes. And perhaps a very con-
siderable tract of the finest, richest land in Oregon may be
found on the coast between the mouth of the Umpqua River
and the southern boundary of the Territory. Indeed, I am
informed by those who have traveled the coast that there
is not a stream putting into the ocean south of the mouth
of the Columbia but aflfords some good land for settlement.

I have given you these brief facts, hoping and praying that
they may come under the eye of many a pious brother, and
sister too, whose spirit may be moved to come over and
labor with us in the glorious work of giving a moral and re-
ligious character to the thousands of our own countrymen
who now people Oregon and the millions who will soon
people the Pacific shores. Cannot some of our excellent
deacons and praying, working, young married brothers and
sisters be induced to come and become our fellow laborers
in this delightful clime and in this most delightful and im-
portant work? Is not the great Head of the church now
pressing the question to the very heart of numbers of our
lay brethren? Will they not go and plant the seed and cul-
tivate the tender plants in the garden of the Lord? How im-
portant the position in relation to half the globe, and that
yet unevangelized ! How important the position in relation
to the commercial world, if the half is even realized which
our national government anticipates ! Will not many of our
praying brethren heed the call and come and work with us
in the morning of our existence in Oregon? Everything is
to be done, if this part of our country is to be saved from the
reign of idolatry, the tyranny of skepticism and the dominion
of the Beast. I must close this and hasten to write a few
lines to our private friends.

Yours respectfully, EZRA FISHER.

214 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

N, B. — We shall establish the monthly concert in these
Plains next month. Romans are sparing no pains to secure
the influence and wealth of Oregon to their church; their
priests are all Jesuits. May all our brethren in the States
pray for God's blessings to rest on our labours. Will you
not use your influence in encouraging our lay brethren to
come and settle with us? I can almost assure them that
they will never regret the sacrifice they must make at the
first, if they will first count the cost, in the fear of the Lord,
and wait on Him after their arrival before they get dis-
heartened. Many on their arrival, seeing things so new and
different from the more improved parts of the country they
have left, become soon dissatisfied, before they have tried
a winter and a summer in Oregon. But few, very few, re-
main dissatisfied more than six or eight months. When
once they feel the bracing salubrious atmosphere of the sum-
mer and see the generous returns for their labor, they soon
form a strong attachment to the country, and nothing but
the want of improved society and a love of relatives and
friends left behind will induce them to look back with desire
to the land of their youth. These inconveniences must be
remedied by the habitual efforts of every philanthropist and
Christian.

Yours truly, E. F.

Received May 6, 1848.

October 31, 1847.
Dear Br. Hill:

We are all in health. Winter rains are just commencing.
Crop of wheat in the upper country is light by means of an
unusually dry summer, but on the coast all crops are usually
good, droughts seldom aflfecting the coast seriously. The
present immigration is numerous, the number of wagons be-
ing generally estimated at about 1,000 and about 4,000
souls. ^^5 Perhaps they have had more than a usual share of

135 Bancroft says the number of persons was between 4000 and 5000. Hist, of
Ore. 1:623.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 215

sickness and suffering on the road. Hundreds are yet on the
last part of the journey. More than 1,200 or 1,500 wagons
should never attempt to cross the mountains in one year;
and they should not be incumbered with more loose cattle
than is necessary for ample teams and milch cows. Sheep
stand the journey best of all domestic animals and are the
most useful when here. Emigrants from the eastern and
middle states should come by water, if they can submit to
a long sea voyage. Please enter the enclosed letters in the
post office immediately upon reception of this. I send you
a package of three sheets by Captain Gelston containing my
report from August first. Shall spend some time during the
rainy season in writing you.

Our general prospects in Oregon are brightening. Com-
merce is increasing rapidly and a general impulse is given
to every branch of business. We earnestly hope the U. S.
Congress will provide for us a government the coming ses-
sion.^^6 J trust your Board will provide for California im-
mediately on the U. S. securing that territory to her juris-
diction. A colporter preacher jointly sustained by the A.
Bapt. Publication Society and the H. Mission Board, with
a supply of books and tracts, would be an invaluable acces-
sion to Oregon. I have written Br. Malcom on that subject.
Oregon is in perishing need of this very kind of instrumen-
tality. Will not our Eastern Baptists give this Ter. the first
colporter, with his supply of books adapted to every age and
condition of man in the formation of a moral and religious
character? You may think me enthusiastic. Well, be it so,
I am quite sure you could not be less so, were you here to
see and feel our wants as I do. We must have the Psalm-
ist^^^ here ; a few dozen would sell and these would prepare
the way for hundreds more.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

Received Mav 6. 1848.

136 Oregon was given a territorial government in 1848.

137 The "Psalmist" was a Bantist Hymnal bv Baron Stow and S. F. Smith.
McClintock and Strong, Cyc. of Bibl. Theol. and Eccl. Lit. VIII :745.

216 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Clatsop Plains, March the 8th, 1848.
Dear Br. Hill:

The last communications I received from you were under
date of October 2nd and 31st and Nov. 13th, 1846, per Bark
Whiton, and I reported by the same bark up to November
1st, 1847. I also saw a letter to Br. Johnson, which I think
was brought through by the immigration of 1847, in which
was stated the fact that the Executive Board had voted to
increase our salary to $200 each, which fact I acknowledged
in my last. The Bibles and Testaments appropriated by
the City Bible Society have been of essential service in sup-
plying the destitute and relieving the wants of our Sab-
bath schools and Bible class. The tracts have been earnestly
sought and read with much interest, both by parents and
children, and no doubt they have been blessed of God as an
efficient auxiliary to the ministry of the Word and Sabbath
school instruction. My portion of this stock of tracts is more
than half gone and I have promised Brother Vincent Snell-
ing some. By the blessing of the All Wise, I propose spend-
ing about two months of the approaching summer in the
Willamette Valley. I am therefore using them sparingly
that I may take a package along with me. I earnestly hope
you will not fail to have more forwarded, at least yearly.
I made a feeble appeal to the Corresponding Sec. A. B. P.
Society in behalf of books, both for Sab. schools and the
ministry, and also recommended the appointment of a col-
porter for Oregon who should be a preacher. I trust that
appeal will be heeded and call forth a hearty response, not
simply from that Society, but from the churches. After last
writing I found a note from you on the margin of a pam-
phlet informing me for the first time of my being made a
life member of the A. and F. Bible Society. Assure Br.
Allen that it would aflford me great pleasure to receive a line
from him informing me through what medium my name
has been enrolled in that list of worthy names which have
contributed so much to publish that blessed Book unadulter-
ated for the nations of the earth. The Bible is above all

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 217

price. May God grant the unknown donor a disciple's re-
ward and bless the offering to the everlasting joy of many
souls. As for myself, I am utterly unworthy this token of
respect. As I expect to forward this by the return party
who will probably leave early next month, and it is some-
what uncertain whether it will reach you, I must defer writ-
ing much that would be interesting and proceed to state a
few of the most important facts.

I send you herein a report of my labor from the first of
Nov. last up to the present date. My labors have been con-
fined to Clatsop County. Since my last report I have thought
best to divide my labors on the Sabbath. Accordingly 1
preach one Sabbath at my own house (a log cabin 18 feet by
24) in the south half of these plains and the alternate one
in the north half of the plains. I ha>ve labored nineteen
weeks, but part of my time I am compelled to devote to the
immediate wants of my family. I preached 20 sermons, de-
livered no lectures, attended four prayer meetings and two
religious conferences preparatory to the constitution of a
church. Visited religiously forty families and persons, two
common schools. Baptized none. Obtained no signatures
to the temperance pledge. Have assisted in organizing no
church nor the ordination of any minister. Traveled 147
miles to and from my appointments. None received by let-
ter, none by experience and we know of no cases of conver-
sion. We have one young married brother licensed to preach
by a church in lowa.^^^ The monthly concert of prayer is
observed at my house. My people have paid nothing for
missions, foreign, home or domestic. Nothing for the Bible
cause. Publication Soc. nothing. Education Soc. nothing.
For my salary, fourteen dollars. Connected with my stations
are two Sunday schools, 42 scholars and ten teachers and in
one school 100 volumes recently donated by a friend ; and
in the other 20 volumes. I have also a Bible class with eight
pupils. We have commenced building a hewed log house for

138 This was James Bond, who lost his life by an accident in 1849. He had
come to Oregon in 1847. Mattoon. Bap. An. of Ore. 1:8.

218 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

a school and meeting house, 18 feet by 24, and will be able to
use it as a place of worship within six or eight weeks. This
may appear to your Board too trifling and unimportant to be
named in a report, but, could you experience all the priva-
tions of a new country as I am doing, you would look upon
this effort as a valuable acquisition to our spiritual comforts
and an important monument to the progress of civilization
within the deafening roar of the Pacific's surf. I have re-
garded it an object so desirable to be accomplished that 1
have already devoted more than two weeks' time in laborious
efforts through rain and shine in this work. May God be
graciously pleased to make it a nursery of science, a foun-
tain of morals, a birthplace of souls and a spiritual light-
house to guide the pilgrims to the haven of rest. We have
appointed the 13th and the 19th of the present month to
meet for the constitution of a church in the plains and have
invited our sister churches to send us their delegates to sit
in council with us on the occasion. We hope a foundation is
being laid here for future lasting usefulness. God only
knows. Our congregations have been usually good through
the entire winter and Sabbath schools well attended and, al-
though we can record no signal display of Divine grace, our
apparent changes seem to indicate the Divine favor. I have
seldom felt a deeper sense of the responsibility of the minis-
try and the impor'tance of establishing correct moral and re-
ligious principles in a new and rising community than dur-
ing the last winter. We greatly need the prayers of the
churches that we may reap ere long a gracious harvest. Our
communities are surrounded by heathen and no one can tell
the excessively immoral influence which the heathen exert
on a civilized community. And then the number of profes-
sors are few, consequently but few restraints are imposed
on the impenitent. Added to this, the fact that we are at
present involved in an unpleasant Indian war with the Cay-
use tribe inhabiting the country along the foot of the Blue
Mountains, south of the Columbia River, keeps the people
in a state of excitement unfavorable to the cultivation of the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 219

Christian graces. The apparent cause of the difficulty seems
to have originated in the fact of the last year's immigrants
having brought the measles among the Cayuse Indians.
Many sickened and died with them and the flux. The In-
dians, ever jealous and credulous, suspicioned Dr. Whitman
of poisoning them. It seems a treacherous half-breed who
had been educated by the missionaries and residing in Dr.
Whitman's family circulated the report that he had over-
heard the doctor and Mr. Spaulding discussing the subject
of the best method of eixterminating the Indians. Finally,
about the 30th of November, one of the most inhuman trage-
dies which the history of savage cruelty has ever recorded
was perpetrated in open day. Dr. Whitman, his excellent
wife, Mr. Rodgers, a young man of unblemished character and
engaging manner studying for the ministry, and ten other
persons were brutally butchered by the very chiefs who had
long manifested great confidence in the Dr., and for whom
he has so long labored and sacrificed almost all the blessings
of civilization to ameliorate their conditions and direct their
wdiole tribe to the glories of Heaven through a crucified
Saviour. About thirty men, women and children were then
taken captive and reduced to Indian slaves and the females
suffered the most revolting acts of savage violence in the
presence of their own husbands and fathers and mothers,
against which no entreaties or remonstrances were of any
avail for more than a month till Mr. Ogden, one of the chief
factors of the Hudson Bay Co., proceeded with twenty-two
men from Fort Vancouver and redeemed the captives and
brought them to Oregon City. Mr, Spaulding and family
have been rescued from imminent danger and are now in the
W^illamette Valley. Messrs. Eels and Walker have not yet
been heard from. Fears are entertained that they, with
their families, may be cut ofif. Yet, as they are in the Spo-
kane country, it is hoped they will find a place of refuge at
Fort Hall in case of imminent danger. ^^^ Our legislature

139 This account of the Whitman massacre is on the whole correct. The date
was November 29th, not 30th. Walker and Eells stayed in the Spokane Country
until spring, protected by the Indian chief. Bancroft. Hist, of Ore. 1 :66. Cornelius
Gilliam, not Gillham, was the commander of the territorial troops. Ibid. 1:676.

220 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

was in session at the time the news of the horrid massa-
cre reached the settlements, and one company of about fifty
men was immediately sent to The Dalles above the Cascade
Mountains to secure the friendly relations of the Indians in
that vicinity, and early in January five more companies were
raised, put under the command of General Gillham and
marched into the Cayuse country. Our troops have had
two engagements with the Indians before reaching the Cay-
use country, in which some fifteen or twenty Indians were
killed and one of our men wounded. ^^^ Probably before this
time there has been a general battle, if the Indians will risk
an engagement in the open fields. It is generally hoped that
we shall escape a general Indian war. The Hudson Bay
Company exerts a great influence with the Indians, most of
the officers and servants having taken Indian wives, and
their interests and influence will be of a pacific character.
Yet we do not feel ourselves altogether safe, living as we
do in the midst of small tribes. We feel that our onl}^ con-
fidence is in God and in His hands we surrender ourselves
and our little ones daily. We are waiting with great anxiety
to see one or more U. S. war vessels come into our river.
Our governor has dispatched an express to California,^'*^ hop-
ing that the bearer of dispatches will find part of our Pacific
squadron in San Francisco Bay, who may afford us protec-
tion till an express shall reach Washington and our hitherto
too tardy government may give us security in the midst of
the heathen. It is feared by many that the Jesuit priests
were obsequious to the horrid massacre of Dr. Whitman and
family.^'*^ I hope to be able to send you the whole corre-
spondence relative to this subject. By this unexpected prov-
idence, it is feared that every Protestant mission to the In-
dians west of the Rocky Mountains will be broken up. At
least they must be discontinued for the present, while Ro-

140 The one wounded was Wm. Rerry. Rancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:703.

141 The overland messengers did not succeed in getting through to California.
The letters to California were finally forwarded via the brig "Henry," which sailed
after the above was written. Rancroft, Hist, of Ore. I :679.

142 The long and unfortunate debate over the question of Catholic influence
in the Whitman massacre is here reflected.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 221

manism holds undisputed sway over all those savage minds.
Should not this fact furnish an argument sufficiently power-
ful to arouse the sympathies of the friends of missions to
new efforts in behalf of the degraded sons of the western
plains and mountains, and especially as we trust the time
is at the door when our national government will give pro-
tection to the lives of the missionaries of the churches? I
will assure you. dear brother, as a philanthropist and a
Christian minister, I earnestly desire and devoutly pray that
our national government will lose no time in extending her
excellent laws over our Territory.^"*^ Our laws, although as
much respected as could reasonably be expected, are ineffi-
cient in the punishment of crime. The public mind is un-
settled constantly, hoping for a better and more complete
code of laws ; difficulties in relation to land claims will be
multiplying and afford fruitful sources of litigation and our
relations to the savages will be subject to repeated discon-
tent till our government treats with them for their lands.
They have long been told that the Boston Hy-as Tyee
(Chief) will come next year and pay them for their lands
till they say their tum-tum (heart) is sick and they do not
know but they shall mimmelus (die) before the Boston Hy-a-;
Tyee comes. Our Indian neighbors like to have the Bostons
settle among them and give them two or three blankets, a
gun or a horse for a section of land and are fond of trading
with^the Whites, yet they are like children in their tradings
with the Whites. They have generally great confidence in
the honesty of the Whites till they are aroused to jealousy
by some designing person.

March 24th. — You will probably learn the state of our
Indian relations to a later date than this through the me-
dium of the return party who will leave the settlements for
the States about the 20th of April, and w\\\ probably pass
sufficiently near the Cayuse nation to learn the state of the
\var.

143' The reference is here, of course, to the laws passed by the provisional
govrnment organized in Oregon pending the extension of the protection of the
United States over the colonv.

222 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I have just received yours under date of April 1st, 1847,
which came to the Islands on board the Medora, and will
just state that it affords me great pleasure to learn that God
still reigns in your anniversaries. May you ever be able
truthfully to adopt the language of the Psalmist, "Behold
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to-
gether in unity." I sometimes almost envy you those heav-
enly entertainments, yet our Heavenly Father has other-
wise ordered it and I would not challenge the wisdom of His
counsels. Since I commenced this package God has been
graciousl}^ pleased to give us more than usual intimations
that He has not entirely withdrawn His favors from us.
Last Lord's day we organized a little feeble church in Clat-
sop Plains consisting of seven members, three males and
four females,''^'* and on Monday one of my neighbors sent for
me to call and see him. I found him laboring under a deep
sense of his condemned condition and he said, "I tell you,
Mr. Fisher, I am a miserable, wretched sinner." The work
of grace appeared most distinctly marked, from a conviction
of his exceeding sinfulness in the sight of God to that of ?.
full surrender of himself to God and the exercise of faith in
a crucified Redeemer. Tuesday, about 5 P. M., hope sprant^"
up in his soul and immediately he arose from his bed, which
he had scarcely left for twenty minutes after Sabbath night,
and bowed in the presence of his family and a few Christian
friends in prayer. He still enjoys the consolation of a^hope
which fills the minds of his neighbors with surprise. . . .
May God give me grace to improve this providence to His
glory. All I will now say on this subject is that I find num-
bers of our impenitent fellow citizens acknowledging that
they have been unusually affected under the preaching of the
Word the past winter. We can but feel an additional as-
surance that the Spirit's silent, yet powerful influence has
attended the preached Word the past winter. We feel great-
ly the need of grace, lest these indications of divine favor
pass away unimproved. Pray for us in Clatsop and in Ore-

144 This church became extinct in a few years. Maftoon, Bap. An. of Ore. T :8.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 223

gon that we may quit ourselves as missionaries of Jesus
Christ as well as missionaries of the churches.

I wrote you a large package by the Brutus and entrusted
it to the care of Elder Gary. I also wrote in November by
the bark Whiton, Captain Getston,'-'^ a package of three
sheets in which I made a regular report from August to No-
vember. But I have recently learned that that ship is char-
tered for a transport to the Pacific squadron and I fear the
letter will be miscarried or be long delayed. We sufifer great
inconvenience in rendering the amount your Board appro-
priate to our support available when needed, but hope to
have a regular mail direct from this place to New York
as soon as next winter. We shall then be able to make our
reports and receive remittances from you timely so as to ob-
viate the necessity of the too frequent interruptions of our
missionary labors by the imperious demands of our families
for the bare comforts of life. I know your Board cannot call
in question our earnest desire to labor exclusively in the ap-
propriate duties of a minister, but, if you will just advert to
your books and count up the amount of remittances and then
reflect that we have been already in the field two years, you
will not wonder that we are compelled to be by far more
secular than is desirable. I have received in these two years
only about $70 from your Board. Could I have been in Illi-
nois and received remittances quarterly, I should have been
enabled to devote myself wholly to the work. These are
unavoidable providences which will soon be succeeded by a
direct and certain communication. I do not complain, but
regret that your Board must be driven to the necessity of
feeling that your missionaries are doing comparatively little
in Oregon.

Anything that our brethren or sisters can send us as ar-
ticles of clothing, and especially in cloth, either woolen or
cotton, will greatly assist us. I shall make a request that
vou forward articles of clothinsf and common household furn-

145 Gaiston, not "Getston." Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:620.

224 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

iture and books to the amount of my salary, or nearly so,
up to this time the first opportunity after this. I have pur-
posed to write you on the subject of the manners and cus-
toms and the general character of the people and, from time
to time, give a general description of the various detached
portions of the country, and the present embarassments
which our colony have to encounter, but this I cannot do at
this time. I will simply give my testimony in general terms
to the climate. After having spent two years and a half
below the Cascade Mountains, I think I have never ex-
perienced so salubrious a climate, even in Vermont or Massa-
chusetts, and never in my life have I seen so few persons
suffering under the influence of disease, in proportion to the
number of population. This remark holds emphatically true
on the coast. Slight colds seem to be the only prevailing
disease, except it be contagious diseases. The measles have
prevailed among us this winter and have swept off a very
considerable number of the natives, who have suffered long
from the venereal. Our soil is generally productive and
yields a generous return to the labors of the husbandman.
Yet it is not to be forgotten that we are far removed from
the civilized world and consequently the few merchants in
Oregon sell their goods of a very ordinary quality at very
exorbitant prices, often one, two and three hundred per cent
and, in some instances, more than a thousand per cent in
advance of the first cost, aimong which I will name castings,
edged tools, nails and all iron wares, coffee, cotton, cloth,
leather boots and shoes, hats, cotton and woolen cloth. As
yet there is no competition in trade. Much has been said
and written of the changes of the mouth of the Columbia.
I will venture to remark, upon the best authority, that the
harbor within the mouth of the Columbia is one of the easiest
of access and the safest in all North America. The last fifty
times the bar has been crossed with no other accident than
the loss of the anchor of the brig Henry. For further i:)roof
on this subject, I would refer you to Mr. Blain's letter to
Honorable Thomas Benton, published in his three days'

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 225

speech in the U. S. Senate on the subject, "The United
States' Title to Oregon in 1846." The pubhshing of that let-
ter in the commercial periodicals in our Atlantic cities would
contribute something to the encouraging of commerce in
Oregon.

We hope to organize an association in June next in the
Willamette Valley.''*^ We are beginning to need one or two
more efficient missionaries in the Willamette Valley. I have
chosen my position as advantageously as I could near the
mouth of the Columbia and promise seems to indicate that it
is too important to be abandoned. The population is gradu-
ally, but constantly, increasing. We have no doubt but the
government will make the first national improvements at the
mouth of the Columbia, and we think it rather probable that
the commercial town will be near the mouth of the river.
These considerations have exerted no small influence in the
decisions I have made. At this time we have no other min-
ister in the county and there is labor sufficient to occupy
the time of one man, although we are farther from the main
settlements on the W^illamette than is desirable. We need
practical, active, common sense preachers, with warm hearts
and sound minds, and the churches will soon be able and
willing to contribute something for their support.

March 25th. — The indications of divine favor appear to
wear a favorable aspect and another of my neighbors seems
not far from the Kingdom of Heaven. Tomorrow is the Sab-
bath and we hope and pray that the Spirit's pow'er may ac-
company the preached Word.

Br. Johnson is making some efforts to build a meeting
house in Oregon City. I have not yet learned with what
success. He will probably write you the particulars.^"*^ Br.
Mncent Snelling should be aided, if your Board can make

146 For the organization of the association, see the letter of Sept. 20, 1848, and
Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:18.

147 This building, the first Baptist meeting house west of the Rocky Mountains,
was completed late in 1848, or early in 1849. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:6. See
also the diary of the author dated July 2, 1848, and enclosed in the letter of
March 1, 1849. The building was situated on Thirteenth and Main streets.

226 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

an appropriation for him to labor with the Yam Hill church
and the churches in that part of the Valley. Should our next
immigration be large, as it probably will, we shall greatly
need help in the ministry and a colporter to travel, preach,
sell books, visit and address Sabbath schools. The present
and a few coming years are of very great importance in re-
lation to all coming time in Oregon. They will constitute
the formative period of our Territory, both civilly and moral-
ly. Small, immediate results will probably control interests
of vast importance to all coming years. Our influence as a
denomination should not be lost on the Pacific for the want
of a few men and a little means. Your Board will not neg-
lect Upper California. There can be little doubt but two mis-
sionaries should be sent, as soon as you can find the men, to
labor in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay, should that sec-
tion of country become a territory of the U. States. ^"^^ Br.
Ross, a member of Br. Evart's church, is there selling goods.

I cannot close this without once more recommending to
our Atlantic brethren, who wish to be instrumental in form-
ing the character of some of the most important future states
in the Union, to come and labor with us. Very soon the
facilities for immigration will be greatly increased, and per-
haps no new portion of our whole country will afford a more
inviting field for usefulness and enterprise than the one
fronting the vast Pacific. Would to God we could make
some of our eflficient deacons and private brethren arouse to
a conviction of duty on this subject and induce them to
come over and help us. At the present time it will require
less sacrifice in time and property to sail from New York or
Boston in October or November for the mouth of the Colum-
bia than it does to immigrate by land from Illinois and Iowa
in the spring. The farmer leaving your port in November
may plant and sow Oregon soil in May, without spending a
winter on expense before he can cultivate the soil. Time

148 Rev. O. C. Wheeler was appointed to California in 1S48 by the Home Mis-
sion Society. Soon afterv/ard, Rev. 11. W. Read was appointed, hut stopped in
New Mexico on his way out. Bap. Home Missions in N. Am., 1832-1882, p. 339.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 227

admonishes me to lay down my pen.

As ever yours, in gospel bonds,

EZRA FISHER.

March the 29th.— We still see increasing evidence that the
Spirit of the Lord is over us, and although Sabbath was very
rainy our congregation was good and solemn. We learn of
another case in which we begin to cherish hope— a lad of
thirteen years. Some backsliders are awakening. Our pray-
er meetings are becoming interesting, O, for a preparation
of heart to lead God's people into the knowledge of every
Christian duty and to win sinners to Christ, our all com-
passionate Saviour !

In view of so many uncertainties in regard to my former
letters on board the Whiton reaching you, I think best to
give you a bill of goods which I wish you will have pur-
chased and forwarded at your earliest convenience. I wrote
on board the Whiton for one set of Fuller's works. We need
Psalmists and you may send me one dozen, unless you find
some friends who will donate them. If second-handed, they
would be very gratefully received. I requested you to make
an efifort to have the A. B. Publication Soc. donate some
books for ministers' libraries and Sunday schools and for-
ward them to me. I also ordered at that time one bolt of
dark caHco, ten pounds saleratus put up in an earthen or
glass jar, one hat for me (the thread enclosed in this is the
circumference of my head), one tin reflector for baking
bread, 15 yards of red woolen flannel and 20 yards canton
flannel. Please send us one cheap bureau, one good com-
mon tea set, one set of plain knives and forks, one set of
small dining plates, one common sized deep platter, six half-
pint tumblers (a good article), three or four patent wooden
pails, one ten-gallon brass kettle, bailed, one box of bar
soap, ginger, spice, cinnamon and cloves, two pound each,
two lbs. of best quality African capsicum, two lbs. black
pepper, two bolts of coarse cotton sheeting, three bolts of
good, firm, dark calico, one bolt of plaid linsey, 20 or 25 yds.

228 CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

of yellow flannel. 12 yards of red flannel, one pilot cloth over-
coat large enough for you, to set easy, suited to a new coun-
tr}' and a rainy winter, 15 yards of heavy cadet cloth or dark
colored satinet and six yards of black satinet, a good, fine
article, four yards of black kerseymere, six pairs of colored
woolen half hose, domestic, two pounds of woolen stocking
yarn, two pair of women's black worsted hose, two pair of
white cotton hose, women's; one cheap fur cap for a boy 15
years old. two lapped leghorn bonnets, trimmed, five yards of
Irish linen, three linen handkerchiefs, two silk pocket hand-
kerchiefs, two black silk handkerchiefs, two brown linen table
cloths. 10 yards of brown toweling, one glass lamp. 13 yards
of black silk lustre alpaca. 15 yards of black cambric, and
cotton wadding enough to stuflF one cloak, five yards of
brov^-n holland, two pounds of candlewicking, six cakes of
shaving soap, one pair heavy calfskin men's shoes. No. 9, two
pair of women's shoes, calf skin. No. 4iA, two' pair of moroc-
co shoes. No. 4, two pair of boys' shoes, heavy kip. Nos. 5
and 6. two pair of girls' shoes, calf skin, Nos. 1 and 2, two
pair children's calf skin, Nos. 10 and 11. Our climate is wet
and we need thick, firm leather. Also send one school geo-
graphy.

March 31st. — In the purchase of these articles, you will
please have regard to our income and the climate in which
we live.

Our late news from the Indian war is of a favorable char-
acter and we hope the war will terminate in a few months
at longest. Yet a few unfavorable occurrences may involve
us in a general Indian warfare. Present prospects for an
abundant wheat harvest are very flattering. I must close
this, as the last opportunity to send it to the return party
will be in a day or two and I have to answer several private
letters.

Yours with esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Missionary in Clatsop Plains. Oregon.

Received August 14, 1848.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 229

Clatsop Plains, Clatsop County, Oregon Ter.,

Sept. the 20th, 1848.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Very Dear Br. :

All the letters which you sent me on board the ship Ma-
tilda were probably received on board the brig IMary Dane,^-^^
together with thirteen boxes of goods and books shipped on
board the same ship. I suppose the other box was shipped
directly to Br. Johnson, as I find it was designed for him.
I shall forward this by the Brig Henry to the Pacific squad-
ron now on the coast of California, hoping it will reach you ;
yet I am in so much doubt that I shall not venture to for-
ward my report from March 8th up to this date, which is
now partially made out. We are expecting a government
steamer in the mouth of the Columbia in a few weeks, by
which I will forward you my report, together with an an-
swer to all your inquiries. I will then write to all the socie-
ties and individuals who have so kindly sympathized with
us in these ends of the earth. The goods and books will
afford us great relief and the donors will be held in grateful,
lasting remembrance. May God reward them.

We organized an association on the 23rd and 24th of June
last in Tualatin Plains by the name of the Willamette Bap-
tist Association, consisting of five churches. I spent the last
of June and the month of July in the Willamette Valley.
Had the subject of an institution of learning under consider-
ation with a few of the most judicious brethren. It strikes
me that the central part of the Willamette Valley, near the
head of what will be steam navigation, will be the place best
adapted to meet the wants of the present population of Ore-
gon, and will always be the center of a heavy population.
But we find no man who will secure a tract of land sufficient-
ly large to meet all the wants of a literary institution unless

149 "Mary Dare," not "Mary Dane." She belonged to the Hudson Bay Com-
pany and arrived from the Hawaiian Islands, where she had probably received these
goods from the "Matilda," the latter part of August, 1848. Uancroft, Hist, of Ore.
11:43.

230 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I go and buy or take a claim and donate the half of it to the
denomination and enter upon the work of commencing and
sustaining a school in connection with preaching. But in
that event I must measurably abandon this point, which we
feel is of vast importance prospectively. Probably $100 or
$200 would purchase such a claim of 640 acres as would be
desirable. But our laws in Oregon require actual residence
within one year after recording such claim. I have been in
great anxiety on this subject. One year more may probably
put such an opportunity beyond our reach without a very
considerable sum of money. Neither myself nor family have
any inclination to change our place, unless we see a strong
probability of advancing the general interests of religion by
it. I can secure a tolerably eligible situation in the vicinity
of the mouth of the Columbia River, but at present it is re-
mote from the great portion of the population, yet eventually
I think it will become a commanding central point. But it
will be difficult to induce our brethren to take this view on
the subject. While this subject has been engrossing my anx-
ious care, our whole community has been perfectly convulsed
with the rumor of much gold in the valleys and hills of Cali-
fornia.^-'^^ The report has been often repeated and enlarged
upon till more than half of the men of our Territory are
either digging gold or on the way in quest of the treasure.
The region in which it is found is variously represented as
being from 120 to 200 miles in length and about 70 in
breadth, and it is said that no limits have yet been found.
Pure gold is found everywhere where the diggers break the
earth and the amount a man procures per day varies from
$10 worth to $240. The gold bears the appearance of having
been fused and congealed in irregular forms and various
sized pieces, from very small pieces (in form resembling
wheat bran) to those of more than four pounds' weight.
Silver, quicksilver, platina, and even diamonds, are reported

150 The news of the discovery of gold in California first reached Oregon early
in August, 1848. Bancroft. Hist, of Ore. 1:42, 43. The account of the emigration
of able-bodied men from Oregon to California is corroborated by contemporaries.
Ibid. 43.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 231

to have been found in this gold region ; also iron ore, con-
taining from 80 to 90 per cent of iron. I never saw so ex-
cited a community. Gold is the rage, and it is to be feared
that the farming interests in Oregon will sufi'er immensely ;
and all our manufacturing, commercial, social, civil, moral
and religious interests must suffer for years. Indeed I think
a greater calamity to our colony could hardly have been sent.
California will fill up as by magic with a heterogeneous mass
from every nation and tribe. Our congregations are fast
waning. But we suppose we shall receive accessions from
the States to fill up in part the places vacated. Provisions
on the Pacific coast must be scarce in less than eighteen
months. Numbers of our brethren have gone to spend the
winter at the gold mines and others will go in the spring,
probably to make a home. You will see by this that no time
should be lost by your Board in securing the labors of two
or three efficient ministers for California. We feel that we,
more than ever before, need grace to direct in these times of
trial. God no doubt has a providence in this. May we so im-
prove under these trials that they shall eventuate in the
promotion of the great interests of Zion, both here and in the
ends of the world. Tomorrow morning I leave for the Will-
amette Valley. Our brethren in Tualatin Plains have a
protracted meeting appointed and I am strongly solicited to
attend. But I must go with a heavy heart. Perhaps half
the brethren there have gone for gold. I fear we shall labor
in vain. Gold at this time is the people's god and how shall
we be able to present the glories of the Redeemer's character
in so attractive a light as to win the affections of those en-
chanted with the immediate prospects of wealth? But God
reigns and the hearts of all men are in His hands and He
can use the feeblest instrumentality to show forth His
praise. But I should not have chosen this time for special
labor.

I remain your unworthy brother,

EZRA FISHER.
Received June 11, 1849.

2Z2 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Clatsop Plains, Oregon Ten, Sept. 19, 1848.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. Al. Soc.
Very dear Br. :

Your three letters under date of July 15, 1847, July 17,
1847, and October 15th, 1847, together with one bearing date
Feb. 16th, 1847, with an envelope subscribed Sept. 25th, 1847,
were received on the 5th inst. by the Hudson Bay Company's
brig Alary Dare, together with 13 boxes marked with a dia-
mond and numbered 1 to 10 and A, B and D. I think the
box marked *'C" was shipped direct to Br. Johnson from
Honolulu. Your letters cheered our spirits and the goods
and books were most welcome messengers.

Beside the above named letters, I have received from you
since I left Rock Island, April 12th, 1845, the following let-
ters; one bearing dates Jan. 19th, and 24th, 1846, one com-
mission No. 1081, April 1st, 1846, one letter Oct. 26th, 1846,
and one 31st and November 13th, 1846, and one commission,
No. 1170, April l.st, 1847.

I wrote you about the 15th of July, 1847, by the ship Bru-
tus, to the care of Elder Gary, who assured me he would de-
liver the letters in person; 1 next wrote you about the 1st
of November, 1847, by the bark Whiton, Capt. Gelston, in
both which I think I gave you a brief report of labors. I
wrote again on the 8th of March, 1848, and reported labor
from Nov. 1, 1847, to March 8th, 1848. These three sheets
were forwarded by last spring's return party overland. I
then reported nineteen weeks, preached twenty sermons, at-
tended four prayer meetings, two religious conferences, pre-
paratory to the constitution of a church, visited 40 families
and individuals, two common schools, traveled 147 miles,
one 3^oung married brother a licensed preacher in my field ;
monthly concert of prayer is observed; $14 paid for my sal-
ary ; two Sabbath schools, 42 scholars, 10 teachers, one
school, 100 volumes in the library ; the other 20 vols. I have
one Bible class of eight members. We were then about to be

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 233

constituted in a few days in Clatsop Plains. Had l)een en-
gaged in building a hewed log school house 18 feet by 24 for
the purpose of school and public worship on the Sab. I had
spent two weeks in that work.

I will now proceed to report from March 8th, 1848, to Sept.
19th, 1848. My field comprises Clatsop Plains and xA.storia.
I statedly supply two stations in these plains. My place of
residence is Clatsop Plains, the community of Astoria as yet
being too small to justify my fixing my location there. My
post office is Astoria.

I have labored 28 weeks since my last report, preached 37
sermons, delivered two temperance lectures, attended 24
prayer meetings, visited religiously 96 families and individu-
als, visited five common schools, obtained 22 signatures to
the temperance pledge, baptized none, assisted in the con-
stitution of the Clatsop church, no ordination, traveled to and
from my appointments 611 miles, seven persons were re-
ceived by letter into the constitution of the church and one
to the Santiam church. By experience none.

We know of no conversions since about the time of our
last report. About that time three were hopefully converted.
No young men preparing for the ministry. Monthly concert
of prayer is observed at one of my stations. My people have
paid during this period nothing for home missions, domestic
missions, foreign missions, Bible or any other benevolent
societies; for my salary $12. Have so far advanced in our
school house that we have a comfortable place for worship.
Connected with my stations are two Sunda}^ schools, ten
teachers and 40 scholars, 125 volumes in each library. Bible
class part of the time in the school ; six scholars. I wrote
in my last informing you of an interesting state of religious
feeling with several of our citizens. I sanguinely hoped dur-
ing the months of March, April and May that we should
have the satisfaction of administering the ordinance of bap-
tism to three or four men, but soon the Cayuse war called
of¥ one young man, and in a few weeks two others who gave

234 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

evidence of a change being wrought in them removed to the
Willamette Valley and the favorable omens passed ofif with-
out any in-gatherings to the church. Our congregations,
however, have generally been good for the amount of popu-
lation. Our Sunday schools have been very uniform and our
children appear unusually interested.

Feb. 2nd, 1849.i5i— Dear Brother Hill : The want of direct
conveyance to New York has occasioned this long delay and
I will now make out my report from Sept. 19, 1848, up to
this time, making 19 weeks.

Preached 24 sermons, delivered no lectures on moral and
benevolent subjects, attended 18 prayer meetings, four cove-
nant meetings, one temperance meeting, visited 49 families
and individuals, three common schools ; baptized none ; ob-
tained two signatures to the temperance pledge ; organized
no church, no ordination, traveled 412 miles to and from my
appointments ; received no persons by letter, none by experi-
ence ; no person preparing for the ministry. Monthly con-
cert of prayer is observed at one station. My people have
paid nothing for missionary or other benevolent societies.
Paid $45 for my salary. We have one Sunday school, six
teachers, 24 scholars, 125 volumes in the library. No Bible
class. I attend our Sunday school and usually explain the
lessons ; distribute tracts and pamphlets among the children.
We have entirely separated from the Presbyterians in our
S. S. and congregation, or rather they have separated from
us. Our congregations have diminished during the winter
from the fact that numbers of our citizens are in the mines
in California. Yet the people at home are quite as attentive
to the preaching of the Word as usual. Part of our church
will soon move to California and all the rest will spend next
summer at least in the mines, except my family, and this is
somewhat a specimen of the gold excitement throughout
Oregon. But a small portion of the men will remain at

151 The letter of Sept. 19. 1848, was inclosed with this of Feb. 2, 1849, and
with those of Sept. 20th and Oct. 19th, 1848, was not received until past the middle
of June, 1849.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 235

home during the summer, except as they return to harvest
their crops in July, Aug. and Sept. Many famiHes will prob-
ably leave for California, among which will be found more
than a fair proportion of business men. Immediately on the
confirmation of the report of much gold in California our
Methodist brethren sent one preacher^" overland to the
mines, and I understand that he is now preaching part of the
time in San Francisco.

Yours, EZRA FISHER,

Received June 19, 1849. Missionary in Oregon.

Clatsop Plains on the Pacific Shore, near Astoria,

October 19, 1848.
Beloved Br. Hill:

On opening the most valuable box, No. 9, shipped from
New York to me on board the ship Matilda, Oct. 15th, 1847,
I found an inventory without either name or place attached
to it, but we infer that the letter was directed to you and not
to either of us from the sentence appended to the invoice in
the following words: "The difference of $2.34 between the
invoice and the letter to Brother Hill is owing to articles
having been brought in after the letter was sent." The box
contained the only shawl, boys' cloth cap, and a piece of bed-
ticking that was sent us. The box was valued at $66.34. We
regret that we have neither name nor place attached to the
invoice, because it would afford us great pleasure to have
addressed a line of grateful acknowledgement to the donors.
The box was thankfully received and contained a number of
articles of woolen clothing which are especially valuable in
our climate , so cool in summer and so wet in winter. Any
s-econd-hand woolen clothes, when but partially worn, are
always very useful where sheep are scarce and looms none.

152 Who was sent to California, the editors have not been able to find; Rev.
William Roberts and Rev. J. H. Wilbur stopped there several weeks in 1847, on
their way from New York to Oregon, and organized a church in San Francisco —
the first Methodist church on the Pacific Coast south of Oregon. In 1849, Rev.
William Taylor and Rev. Isaac Owen were the regular appointees of the Con-
ference in California. — H. K. Himes, Missionary History of the Pacific Northwest,
p. 371, 386.

lit CORRESPOXDEXCE OF THE

We have not more than two or three looms in all our Terri-
tory. Thanks to Br. and Dr. Allen for the Mothers' Journal,
the forwarding of the paragraph Bible and Testament and
other favors. I shall answer his letter before long. We re-
ceived a bundle of 100 volumes of new Sunday school books
from the Juvenile Soc. of the Sunday school in the Stanton
Street Baptist Church. I shall answer Br. Cowan's letter
as soon as time will permit. We received a package of new
Sunday school books, containing 300 volumes, and we regret
to say we found no name nor bill attached to them, as we
should be pleased to respond to the donors direct. We know
they were obtained through your influence in the City. We
regard them a valuable acquisition, especially as we have
been obliged to sustain our school in this place with so few
volumes of the A. Tract Soc.'s publications and other books
less adapted to the capacities of children. We have been
w'aiting and praying a whole year for just such an auxiliary.
May the blessings of these ends of the earth come on the
donors in the great day of the Lord ! The periodicals, espe-
cially of 1846 and 1847, were most gratefully received and
we are still feasting richly upon their contents, whenever
we have an hour of leisure, and we feast not alone. All our
neighbors, and especially our Christian friends, find much
to entertain them. The annual reports are all valuable, and
we only regret that we have no more, as we have frequent
occasions to meet prejudices surely through these matters of
fact. You speak of procuring and forwarding a box of school
books. Next to sustaining the gospel, you will render us the
most essential service in a work of this kind. It is very much
to be desired that the present system of popular school books
in the States be introduced into all our schools in Oregon.
And while so much effort is being made in the old states in
behalf of popular education in the Mississippi Valley, I trust
a voice will be lifted up in behalf of the Pacific borders.
Would to God that we had a Slade to plead our cause on this
subject in our Atlantic cities and towns. The importance of
this subject is daily increasing our responsibilities and the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 237

rage of the gold mania is diminishng public sympathy for
the general diffusion of knowledge. At present our old states
must assume a part of this responsibility, or it is to be feared
that Oregon and California will prove a curse to the Union.
We want your books and, as far as practicable, the very
same kind and date as those which are so richly blessing
your whole Atlantic slope. But with books, we equally
need teachers of moral worth and, if possible, of vital piety.
Would to God we could make our feelings understood in the
eastern and middle states, and we are sure we should see
every ship from your ports to our coast crowded with men,
and women too, who would become co-workers with us in
this and every noble, philanthropic work. Could you but
visit us and see and feel for yourself all we see and feel
daily of our peculiar relations and temptations, you would
strike a note that would not only call out a few boxes of
goods to clothe the families of the missionaries already in
the field, but would search out from their quiet, comfortable
homes many a useful brother to share with us the toils and
privations and, I will add too, the honors under God of trans-
ferring to these western shores the blessings of general edu-
cation and spiritual, practical religion. W^e are in perishing
need of help. We need just such men as give efficiency to
the churches at home. Then under God we can move for-
ward in the cause of education and Christianity. But we
will not despond: we have counted the cost; God is our
helper and He has the hearts of His people in His hands.
But I must close.

As ever yours,

EZRA FISHER.

On Margin. — Help must be sent to California without de-
lay if possible. I should certainly have spent part of this
winter at San Francisco, Monteray and perhaps have visited
the mines, if I could have raised the funds to have paid my
passage without digging at the mines.

Received June 18, 1849.

238 CORRESPOXDEX'CE OF THE

Clatsop Plains, Oregon Ter., Feb. 3d, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

I closed my last yesterday on the subject of California
and will continue to remark. I understand by Capt. of the
Undine that Mr. Hunt, a Presbyterian minister, is preaching
at San Francisco. ^^-^ Besides these two, I think there is not
a Protestant preacher in Upper California. In view of the
extraordinary evolution of things in Oregon and the vast in-
flux of population in California and the fact that a large por-
tion of our Baptist brethren of Oregon will be at the mines
throughout most of the summer, and in view of the strong
solicitude of our members in Clatsop about to move to Cali-
fornia that I should visit that territory at least next summer,
and the advice of all the members of the church, and in view
of the loss of the goods shipped on board the bark Undine
the 21st of June, 1848, I have thought it might be my duty
to visit the mines the coming spring and dig long enough to
raise means to pay my passage and meet the present press-
ing wants of my family, spend a few weeks in the American
settlements and towns and return home perhaps in July or
August. I do not know but this course may be regarded by
your Board as outstepping the bounds of your instructions,
but I feel a strong conviction that great and sudden and un-
expected changes justify extraordinary action. I do not
know that I have the first desire to dig in the mines one day
and, if I could leave my family comfortable and go by water
to San Francisco and other towns on the Bay and the mines,
with no other care than that for God's glory on the Pacific
Coast, my care would be greatly relieved. But I have not
the means, and I cannot leave that interest without being
able to make known the wants of that rapidly accumulating
mass to your Board. I will keep an account of the amount
of time lost in traveling and digging, if any, and report to
your Board, or, should your Board disapprove of the enter-

153 This was Thomas Dwight Hunt, of Honolulu, a Congregationalist. Ban-
croft. Hist, of Calif. \'II -.121 . Several clergymen came in February, 1849. Ibid.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 239

prise and think the cause of Christ better served by discon-
tinuing my appointment the present year, I shall acquiesce,
with the privilege of continuing a correspondence with you.
I trust, however, that your Board will acquiesce in my views.
I am quite sure, if you were here and knew all I know of
the state of things in California, you would take the most
prompt measures to acquaint yourselves with the wants of
that territory and meet them. Oregon must be measurably
stationary for a time,^^"* while California will swarm with
people and overflow with wealth, gambling and dissipation,
and, unless our churches act with promptness and devotion
and liberality, these inexhaustible treasures are given over
into the hands of the Prince of Devils, California will be
morally lost and will prove a capital scourge to our nation.
It is only relatively that Oregon sinks in importance. No
doubt she will become three-fold as valuable to the nation
as she would have been, if gold had not been found in Cali-
fornia.^^^ Although all is in confusion in Oregon and our
citizens and members are now going and coming so that it is
difficult efifecting anything permanent here just at this time.
yet be assured that we need more laborers even here, that
the efforts already made may be followed up, and under
God we may expect a rich return. This, like all other ex-
citements, will sooner or later settle and people and wealth
will flow back to Oregon with astonishing rapidity. We now
need at least two efficient young men in Oregon who can be
well sustained by your Board, and I know that an able young
man now placed in San Francisco and liberally supported,
another at Sacramento City (Sutter's Fort), another in the
American settlements and a fourth at the mines would find
profitable work in promoting the interests of Zion under the

154 This was approximately true.

The immigration to Oregon in 1849 was about 400; in 1850, about 2000; in
1851, about 1500; in 1852, about 2500; while the increase in California during these
years was about ten or twenty times this number. F. G. Young, The Oregon Trail,
in Oregon Hist. Soc. Quar. 1:370. This estimate probably includes only those who
came overland by the Oregon Trail.

155 The influx of gold-seekers to California gave Oregon a market for its lumber
and farm products. Returning miners brought gold dust with them, and the au-
thor's prophecy of Oregon's share in the prosperity of California was fulfilled. Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 11:48-59.

240 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Captain of our salvation. I wish you to remember that the
formation of our civil and religious character is at. hand and
vice in all its forms must reign, unless Zion's sons are awake.
Just think of the advantageous position of San Francisco in
relation to the whole Pacific trade. Where is there another
such point to be occupied in all North America? Now hold
the map before you. Think of the mountains of gold behind
her, the influx of population from Upper and Lower Cali-
fornia bordering the coast, the Pacific islands, and even
China, swarming hither for gold, and then let me ask our
dear brethren, Are we prepared to leave this point unoccu-
pied for the want of a few hundred dollars? This picture is
no fiction. Already the principal men of the Sandwich Is-
lands are said to be in the mines digging gold, and I am in-
formed that there are some from China, too. And how long
will it be before almost every nation in Europe will be repre-
sented there? All who go to the mines and return say the
gold is inexhaustible and yields from one ounce of pure gold
to six or eight pounds per day to a single laborer. What a
point then is San Francisco for the men of God to take with
Bibles and devotional books and tracts, sending them as upon
the wings of the wind ! Will your Board censure me then
for pursuing the plan laid down in this sheet the coming
summer, in the midst of this unsettled state of things in
Oregon ?

I received yours of Jan. 22, 1848, giving the sum total of
three boxes of goods shipped on board the Bark Undine,
Thos. S. Baker, Master, on the 21st of January, 1848. The
three boxes with cartage and insurance amounted to $122.74.
The Undine is now in the Columbia. I understand that she
suffered a partial wreck in passing Cape Horn and her goods
were part thrown overboard and part sold as damaged goods
somewhere on the Pacific coast south of this. Thus you see,
dear brother, that God has been pleased, graciously no doubt,
to deprive me and family of our dependence in clothing for
the ensuing year, and it must probably be ten months before
you will be able to recover the insurance and place the goods

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 24'l

within my reach. The letters enclosed in the boxes with the
periodicals are of course lost. I shall be obliged to write an-
other sheet and enclose in this. I therefore close this by
subscribing myself your unworthy brother,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Want of time prevents my writing more by this
opportunity to California to meet the first mail steamer. But
I will give you extracts from my Journal soon, some brief
geographical notices, etc.

Yours, E. F.

Received Tune 19, 1849.

Clatsop Plains, Feb. 5th, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother:

That there may be no mistake in relation to the boxes
shipped on board the bark Undine on the 21st day of Jan.,
1848, I will give you the copy of the inventory as forwarded
by you. . . .

It appears that Thos. S. Baker sailed as Master and that
Capt. James Bishop & Co. were proprietors. The Undine
has changed owners and masters. It is to be hoped you have
learned of the disaster and secured the insurance and for-
warded me the same articles in kind before this time. But
if not, I trust on the receipt of this you will secure the in-
surance and forward the same articles in kind and quality,
excepting the children's shoes. You will please get them all
one size larger at least, as they are growing fast. I wrote on
board the bark Whiton in the fall of 1847 ordering the fol-
lowing: One set of Fuller's works, one dozen of the Psalm-
ist, one bolt of dark calico, ten lbs. of saleratus, one hat, one
tin reflector for baking bread, fifteen yds. of red flannel and
twenty yds. of canton flannel.

On the 8th of March, 1848, accompanying a report of nine-
teen weeks. I ordered the following articles : (This was sent
overland and I fear has not reached vou. If vou have not

242 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

forwarded it, please omit the bureau and in the place send
me a good cooking stove and pipe, as we are not able to have

both at present.) . . .

Please send me the following articles, if I have the amount
due me. Bill ordered Feb. 5, 1849 : Six large tin pans, one
set candle moulds, 2 tin pails with lids, six and eight quarts,
10 pint tin cups, 2 quart do., 2 tin coffee pots, one-half box
of glass, eight by ten, 1 keg of nails, 8's, 6's and 4's, equal
parts, 15 lbs. nails, 10 penny, 1 nail hatchet with handle, 1
ax, 1 spade, with steel blade, 1 hoe, 1 small, plain looking
glass, 1 set of dining plates, 1 set butter do., 1 pitcher, 2
quarts, 1 bolt cotton sheeting, heavy, 2 bolts dark, firm calico,
16 yds. black alpaca, or something suitable for ladies' dresses
and cloaks, 12 yds. black cambric, 12 sheet wadding, 14 yds.
good bed ticking, half lb. good black sewing silk, 1 good
cooking stove and furniture with 7 or 8 joints of pipe, 6
ivory fine combs, 6 doz. spools white cotton thread, 1 ream
good cap writing paper, 1 box vegetable shaving soap, 1 pen-
knife, 1 pocket do., 1 traveler's inkstand and 6 common cheap
ones, ^56 1 pair heavy calfskin boots. No. 10, 1 do. shoes, No. 9.

N. B.— Samuel N. Castle, agent A. R. C. F. M. for Sand-
wich Islands Mission, forwarded the 13 boxes shipped by you
on the Matilda, charging $20.73 to me and to Br. Johnson
$1.22, stating that he should draw on you for the same. Br.
Johnson requests that you should take his proportion of this
freight from the Islands to Astoria from your account
charged to me and charge the same to him, which will prob-
ably be about ten dollars. I have not the separate bills of
freight as charged to him and me from N. Y. to the Sand-
wich Islands. You have on your books and will confer a
favor on me by apportioning the amount, $21.95, between us.
Cut the lower part of this half sheet and you have my entire
bill.

P. S. — Send no more goods by the Sandwich Islands. Bill
continued from the other page: 1 bolt Kentucky jean, 1 pair

156 These cheap inkstands were probably for school use.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 243

thick, men's shoes, No. 6, 2 pair stout, ladies' morocco shoes,
Nos. 4 and 4i/^, 1 pair misses' shoes, calf skin. No. 2^, 1 do
No. 1.

Yours respectfully,
.... EZRA FISHER.

Clatsop Plains, Oregon Ter., Feb. 8th, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother:

Yours under date of October 15th, 1847, presented some of
your views of the importance of making an early attempt to
lay the foundation for a denominational school which should
eventually mature into a college and theological seminary. I
was greatly cheered to learn that some of our Eastern breth-
ren were beginning to think on that subject. This is a cause
which is far from being among the least of my cares. And,
first, from selfish motives I am called upon to be awake to
this work. My rising family and that of a respectable num-
ber of our brethren imperiously demand that something be
done, and that soon, or our children must be distressingly
neglected. And, secondly, such is the character of a large
portion of our Oregon Baptists that, as a denomination, we
cannot be efficient and secure a great amount of public con-
fidence till we can find some benevolent enterprise at home
in which we can enlist their sympathies. This will be likely
to be a work around which all will rally from personal in-
terest more readily than any other benevolent enterprise now
before the Christian public. Through this medium I would
hope to call into our Territory more liberal-minded men
from the older states. It is true that we have a respectable
number of Baptists who appreciate the importance of an edu-
cated ministry and who pray for the universal spread of the
gospel by the direct effort of the church, yet the larger por-
tion of our brethren have never seen it so done in Israel.

Thirdly, we owe it to our rising territory to perform our
part in the formation of our national character. I spent four

244 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

or five weeks last summer in traveling through the Willam-
ette Valley ^^^ preaching and privately laying this subject
before our brethren, and I rejoiced much to find so many
who responded cheerfully to the views that I presented. I
then thought some central point in that valley on the banks
of the Willamette, or near it. in view of the circumstances,
would be the most desirable position. Afterward, when we
heard a report of much gold in the vicinity of the Columbia
River, '-'^ both Br. Johnson and myself thought we might as
well make an effort on these Plains (Clatsop). W'e, how-
ever, learned that the parties who went to Powder River to
explore for gold brought home nothing but mica, or pyrates
of iron, and the whole tide of immigration and commerce
turned towards California. I, therefore, was compelled to
yield to the popular opinion everywhere rife that Oregon
must unavoidably be thrown back at least two or three years.
Our lovely little church in Clatsop Plains will every one but
my own family go to California, and all think it is my dut}'
to go this summer, and some are very solicitous that I move
my family there. In view of all these circumstances, nothing
more can be done the present season than to fix on a loca-
tion, and that is somewhat hazardous. Yet with the present
development of the country, both here and in California. I
think, if anything is done this season, I shall be strongly in-
clined to favor the commencement of this work somewhere
near the point on the Willamette where steam navigation will
terminate, say about 70 or 80 miles above Oregon City. I
am strengthened in these views from the facts that the Will-
amette Valley is the largest body of rich farming land in
Oregon, and the scener}^ remarkably picturesque; that the
large bodies of farming land on the Umpqua, the Clamet^^^
and Rogue rivers will be the next settled after the Willam-
ette, and that there must be a great thoroughfare opened
from the falls of the Willamette River to the gold mines on

157 There was as yet no uniformity in the spelling of this name. See note 71.

158 These discoveries were not largely utilized until the sixtit^ — G. H. Mimes.

159 Klamath. See note 100.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 245

the Sacramento River in California before many years.
Wagons already travel it with convenience.

You ask how a site may be secured? I know of but one
way at present, and that is to find one, two or more brethren
interested in the enterprise to take or purchase claims cov-
ering the site wanted and then pledge themselves either to
donate or sell the necessary amount of land to a board in
trust for the denomination.

j\Iy feelings last summer were so much enlisted on this
subject that I became half-inclined to make a claim in refer-
ence to this specific object, change the field of my labor and
pledge half of said claim to the denomination. I, however,
thought of the time and money expended by your Board
to sustain me at the mouth of the river and of the little
feeble church here, and, by the advice of Br. Johnson and
the absence of all counsel from your Board, I concluded to
let matters rest for the present.

Now this complete confusion into which the entire com-
munity, both in Oregon and in California, are thrown by
means of much gold being found in the latter territory will
probably compel me to take my family to the Willamette
Valley and work toward this object, in connection with that
greatest of all works, the preaching of the gospel, or comply
with the wishes of some of the best members of this church
and remove to the vicinity of San Francisco Bay; or it is
possible, but hardly probable, some good brethren may move
to this place. I leave this matter with the great Head of
the Church and trust His providences may mark out plainly
the path of duty. I need much the advice of your Board
on this subject, and trust I shall have it in three or four
months. From the present movement of things I think a
large portion of the enterprise and business talent of Oregon
will be thrown upon the Sacramento River and San Fran-
cisco Bay. What proportion of our Oregon brethren and
their families. I cannot now tell. But of one thing I am con-
fident, ministerial help and educational help must be sent to

246 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Oregon and California from the States or little will be done.
My lungs are beginning to fail me ; Br. Johnson has a numer-
ous family and cannot do everything; the means necessary to
sustain a family in Oregon the present year will be nearly
twice as much as it was last year, and it is exceedingly doubt-
ful whether the liberality of the people on the Pacific will
keep pace with the increase of their wealth unless they have
the gospel sanctified to them. Sin and iniquity are making
fearful strides in California since the commencement of gold
digging, if all reports be true. How exceedingly desirable
that these unparalleled treasures be consecrated to the ser-
vice of the Lord in the universal spread of the gospel.

As ever I subscribe myself your unworthy brother,

EZRA FISHER.

Received July 3, 1849.

Clatsop Plains, Oregon, March 1, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother:

In this I will give you a journal of my tour through the
Willamette Valley last June and July.

June 13th, 1848. — Preached at my north station, four miles
from my residence, to an attentive assembly and attended S.
S. and Bible class. We seemed to enjoy more than a usual
degree of the divine Presence. In the evening walked three
miles to the landing for these plains, seven miles southwest
from Astoria. Here we spent an hour in social prayer with
six or eight professors, among whom were two who have re-
cently professed a hope in Christ. Conversed with Mr. L.
on the importance of publicly putting on Christ by baptism.
He assured me that he is only waiting for the returning
health of his wife that she may accompany him.

19th. — Left the Scippanouin^^o landing for the Willamette,
in company with a party of fifteen, in a large canoe. The
morning was delightfullv serene and the Columbia, here

160 Skipanon, on Clatsop Plains.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 247

eight miles in width, formed one vast mirror reflecting the
light, the imagery of towering hills and stately forest trees
everywhere skirting and often overhanging its bold and pre-
cipitous shores. This day by alternate sailing and rowing or
paddling, we made our way up the stream forty-three miles ;
and, just as the sun was concealing his golden beams behind
the accumulation of lofty hills, we sought and found a camp
on a rocky shore at the base of a steep mountain side loaded
with heavy forests and almost impenetrably bestudded with
vines and shrubbery. Here we kindled our fire, took such re-
freshments as we had provided for the journey, committed
ourselves to the care of Him who spreadeth out the heavens
as a tent and laid our weary bodies down under the starry
canopy to rest for the night, as is our uniform custom in
journeying on this mighty river.

22d. — This morning at eight reached Linnton, a small town
of six or eight log cabins situated on the west bank of the
Willamette six miles above its junction with the Columbia
and twelve S. W. from Fort Vancouver. ^^^ Here I left my
party for Tualatin Plains, ten miles S. W. My way lay over
high hills and through a dense forest. About twelve reached
the house of my esteemed friend and brother, David T.
Lenox. Here I was received with truly Christian hospitality.
Four of his children have publicly put on Christ during the
last year. In the afternoon visited the school which I taught
in the summer of '46, now taught by a worthy Br. Ford,
formerly from N. Y.

23rd. — Met delegates from six churches, and by request
preached on the importance of brotherly love. Was called
to the chair and, after long but friendly deliberation on the
subject of the connection of churches with missionary bodies,
an association was organized, consisting of five churches,
under the name of the Willamette Baptist Association, leav-
ing each church free to act at pleasure on the missionary

161 Ivinnton was laid out in the winter of 1843-4, and a road cut out from it
to Tualatin Plains. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:415. It languished in competition
with Portland.

248 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

question. Oh, how deeply ought Christians to humble them-
selves in view of the thought that so many of our dear breth-
ren are so slow to awake and put on their strength and
come up to the great battlefield of Zion's King! May the
love of the gospel soon bring all our churches to a union of
sentiment and action on this great practical subject.

24th. — This day has been one of hard labor and, I trust,
of some humble, fervent prayer. It does my soul good to
see some manifest marks of discipleship in the midst of
error. A spirit of kindness has been maintained while there
has been very little yielding of principle. On the whole, the
best work done this day has been the discussing and acting
on the subject of the importance of liberating the ministry
from worldly care and encouraging them to work in Christ's
harvest field. Br. Vincent Snelling was appointed to travel
and preach twelve months in the Willamette Valley, and
nearly $100 was subscribed on the spot for that object. This
is our commencement of the book of acts. May its records
be greatly enlarged each coming year.

25th. — Sabbath. Preached to an unusually large concourse
for Oregon from Heb. 12:28, "Wherefore we, receiving a
Kingdom which cannot be moved," etc. Theme, Peculiarity
and Immutability of Christ's Kingdom. Br. Johnson fol-
lowed and continued the subject. The fixed attention of the
congregation indicated that they were instructed on sub-
jects of infinite moment. May God apply the word with
saving efifect to some souls !

26th and 27th. — Prepared the minutes for the press and
preached to a small collection in Tualatin Plains.

28th. — Rode ten miles to Mr. Clark's camp ground, ^"^"^
where a camp meeting was commencing, and at two P. M.
preached on the importance of relying entirely upon the
means of divine appointment in laboring for Zion's enlarge-
ments ; Zion's strength rests alone in Zion's King. Some seri-
ous impressions had been made during the meeting of our

162 The site of the present Forest Grove.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 249

Association, and it was evident that some few souls were
concerned for their future state.

29th. — Rode ten miles and visited Elder Porter's^^^ family
and affectionately recommended to the young members the
Pearl of Great Price.

30th. — Rode 28 miles from Tualatin Plains to Oregon City
Country interspersed with prairie oak and lir openings and
occasionally a belt of half a mile of heavy timber ; under-
growth, hazel bush, some of which grows 15 feet high and
large enough to be used for making brooms'^"* ; hills high on
approaching the river.

July 2d. — Preached for Br. Johnson, and after preaching
Br. Johnson baptized a sister in the Willamette, a large con-
course of citizens witnessing the scene, which was solemnly
interesting. In the afternoon visited and addressed the
Union S. school. Br. Johnson's meeting house enclosed ex-
cept windows, but yet unpainted.

3rd, — Rode 15 miles up the east side of the Willamette to
the Molalla River. Visited an anti-missionary Baptist min-
ister^^^; found him antinomian in doctrine. Spent the night
with Br. Cornelius and wife. The plains on this stream
(Molalla) are sufficiently large to afford a good settlement.
Here are some eight or ten Baptist members and a church
will probably soon be constituted. ^^^

4th. — Rode 25 miles through a rolling open country, inter-
spersed with prairies. The way lay back of the main French
settlement, the Roman stronghold of Oregon. '^^ Spent the

163 Rev. William Porter (1803-1872) came to Oregon from Ohio in 1847 and
settled in Washington County on a farm. He preached mostly for the West Union
and Forest Grove churches. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. I :58.

164 The author frequently used the hazel to make brooms and coarse brushes
for the use of his own family.

165 Possibly Isom Cranfill. — G. H. Himes.

166 The date of the organization of the Molalla church, the editors have not
been aisle to find. It was admitted to the Willamette Association in 1851 (Minutes
of the Association of 1851), but was in existence at least as early as September,
1849, and had been organized after this letter was written, probably in the spring
or summer of 1849. Had it been organized by March, 1849, the author would
probably have mentioned it in his journal, and it is mentioned in his journal of
September, 1849, as having been organized.

167 This French settlement is usually called French Prairie, because first set-
tled by French Canadians formerly in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company.
Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:70.

250 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

night with a Br. Hunt and family, with whom I became ac-
quainted fifteen years ago in Indiana. Br. H. is some ten
miles from any other Baptist family of kindred spirit on the
subject of Christian enterprise and about twelve miles from
Salem. ^^^ How important that Christians should always,
especially in new countries, select their place of residence
in reference to their usefulness and Christian privileges.

5th. — Rode ten miles to Br. Matlock's, another brother
with whom I labored in Indiana, one and a half miles from
Salem. 16^ Visited his family and in the afternoon visited the
Oregon university or, in other words, the Methodist Insti-
tute, now in operation under the superintendence of Rev.
Mr. Wilbur.^^o His daughter performs the duty of teacher
at present. I learn they are expecting a teacher from the
States the coming year. The school at this time occupies
the place of a common school, but meets the wants of the
village and surrounding country. The buildings are of wood
and have been erected at an expense vastly disproportionate
to the present demands of the country. Yet, feeble as the
school has been, doubtless it has proved a blessing to Ore-
gon and will ultimately reward the denomination for all the
needless expenditures. Its site is eligible, on the east bank
of the Willamette about forty miles above Oregon City.

6th. — Rode twenty miles up Mill Creek to the north fork
of the Santi Am River, visited two families and attended
the funeral of a young married lady with whom I traveled
on our way from the States. Made a short address and of-
fered up a prayer at the grave.

7th. — Rode sixteen miles, after fording the river, to the

168 Salem was laid out on lands belonging to the Oregon Institute shortly
after the removal of the latter to Salem in 1844. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:222.
There had been a settlement there from an earlier date.

169 This was W. T. Matlock, who was a member of the state legislature in
1851. History of Pacific Northwest, compiled by North Pacific History Company,
I :326. He later lived near Clackamas Station in Clackamas County.

170 The Oregon Institute, the forerunner of the present Willamette University,
intended at first as a school for the children of Methodist missionaries, was organ-
ized early in 1842. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:201-203, 222.

Rev. James H. Wilbur, (1811-1887) came to Oregon in 1847. His daughter
was later the wife of the Rev. St. M. Fackler, an Episcopal clergyman. — W. D.
Fenton, Father Wilbur and His Work, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. X, 2 ; p. 17.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 251

middle fork and preached to an interesting collection of
people, some of whom rode from three to twenty-five miles
to hear preaching.

8th. — Crossed the middle and south forks ; the latter
stream is nearly as large as the Mohawk River. Rode 15
miles to the church on said stream and preached at 12 (noon)
to the church.'''! This church is situated in the midst of
the richest and most delightful portion of Oregon. Perhaps
a more picturesque scenery cannot be found in North Ameri-
ca. The church is small, but its members are fast prosper-
ing and wish to work for good while they work for them-
selves ; and under a faithful ministry we might reasonably
hope for happy results. This is about 65 miles above Ore-
gon City in the center of the Willamette Valley and a few
miles below the termination of future steam navigation, in
the vicinity of water power to almost any extent. I was
strongly impressed with the thought that near this place was
perhaps the most favorable point in the whole country for
the location of an institution of learning for our denomina-
tion. By the recent developments of gold in California
these convictions are strengthened.

9th. — Brother Snelling and myself both preached and ad-
ministered the sacrament of the supper. Congregation good
for so new a country, but no unusual interest apparent.

10th, 11th and 12th. — Visited; viewed the surrounding
country. 13th. Rode 30 miles to Salem and spent the night
with Br. Matlock. 14th. — Crossed the Willamette and rode
about 30 miles over a rolling prairie and open country to the
south fork of the Yam Hill; visited two families, but noth-
ing of special interest occurred.

15th. — Rode 14 miles. My way lay along the Yam Hill
bottom lands ; soil luxuriantly rich and large fields of wheat
of enormous growth were now waving their long golden ears
to the gentle breezes that glide over the plains. Met the

171 This was probably the Santiam Baptist Church (at Sodaville, Linn Co.),
which had been organized by Rev. H. Johnson that same summer. Mattoon, Bap.
An. of Ore. 1:8.

252 CORRESPOXDENCE OF THE

Yam Hill church at the time of their monthly meeting and
preached on the occasion at the house of Br. ]\Iiller,^''- an
ordained minister from Missouri. 16th. — It being Lord's
day, Br. Snelling and myself both preached to a large con-
gregation for the sparseness of the settlement, and at night
I rode home with Br. Snelling. How distressing the thought
that in all my travels in the Willamette Valley I have found
no Baptist Sabbath school above Oregon City. My spirit is
deeply afflicted with the thought that the children of Bap-
tist families and others have so few opportunities for re-
ligious instruction. One Sabbath each month they may hear
a sermon preached ; and then there are few books, except the
Bible, adapted to instruct the youthful mind in morals and
religion, while the temptations to visit and rove the plains
in diversion are many and powerful. I long for the faithful
S. S. teachers, with their neat little library of books, to direct
the youthful mind in the ways of virtue and wisdom.

17th. — Rode 30 miles, crossed the two remaining forks of the
YamHill River, passed through Chehalum Valley, ^''^ visited
two Baptist families and spent the night on the south fork
of the Tualatin River with an interesting Baptist family.

18th.— Visited Rev. Mr. Clark in TuaJity Plains. Near his
residence he, with the assistance of a few benevolent friends,
sustains a school called the Oregon Orphans' Asylum.^"*
This school will probably become in some future day a liter-
ary institution for the Congregational denomination. Rode
14 miles, visited two families and arrived at Br. Lenox's.

20th.— Walked 28 miles to Oregon City.^^s Spent the re-
mainder of the week in visiting in the city and vicinity and
in preparing to go down the river. 23d. — Preached twice for
Br. Johnson. Congregation moderately good. 24th. — Left

172 This was Rev. Richard Miller, who came to Oregon in 1847. Mattoon,
Bap. An. of Ore. I:S, 59.

173 The Chehalem Valley was settled as early as 1834 or 1835 by Ewi(lg
Young, who had accompanied Kelly to Oregon. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1 :92.

174 This was the forerunner of Pacific University.

175 Oregon City at this time, according to Dr. Atkinson, had 120 houses.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 253

Oregon City for Clatsop on board the launch of the unfor-
tunate ship Peacock.'''*^

28th. — Reached home ; found my dear wife just recovering
from a painful illness occasioned by an abscess in the right
breast. It, however, pleased our Heavenly Father to spare
her life and that of our little son, now eight weeks old.

Clatsop Plains, March 1st, 1849.
Dear Br. Hill:

I wrote you one letter under date of Sept., 1848, and for-
warded on board the brig Henry bound for San Francisco.
I have written you three since and forwarded to San Fran-
cisco on board the Mary Cadell. She left aliout the first
of Feb. I hope these will reach you by mail ; one of them
contained my report of 19 weeks up to Fel). 2, 1849. W'ith
this journal I shall send you a letter under date of Feb. 8,
1849, on the subject of a literary institution. Accompanying
the package which I sent you on the Mary Cadell were the
follov/ing in answer to letters received by boxes of goods
last Sept. : Two sheets to members of Deep River Baptist
Church, Connecticut, under date Oct. 12, 1848. One to Sarah
L. Joslin, East Jeffry. N. H., Oct. 12, 1848. One to Rev.
Joseph Stockbridge, N. Y., Oct. 14, 1848. One to Mrs.
Elizabeth N. Jones, AA'eston. Mass., Oct. 17, 1848. Or-e to
the Baptist church in Amenia, N. Y.. Oct. 18, 1848. One to
Rev. Reuben Winegar, Rensselaerville. Albany Countv, N.
Y., Oct. 21, 1848. One to the Elmira and South Port church.
Chenango County, N. Y., Oct. 18, 1848. One to East Greene
church, Chenango Co., N. Y., Nov. 12. 1848. One to James
Cowan, 119 Ludlow Street, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1849. One to Rev.
Ira M. Allen, N. Y.. Feb., 1849, and a package to Timothy
Taft under various dates, Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y. I trust
they will all reach their places of destination.

I shall leave in a few days for San Francisco, if Provi-
dence wills, and shall probably spend three or four months

176 The U. S. S. 'Peacock," of the Wilkes exploring expedition, was lost at
the mouth of the Columbia in 1841. Bancroft, Hist, of N. W. Coast, II:S32.

254 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

in California. Br. Johnson advises to this course in view of
the unsettled state of things at present in Oregon. You will
hear from me again soon, if life is spared. The goods which
you forwarded on the bark Undine were lost. You will
probably draw to the amount on the insurance office and
forward the same articles again.

I will here insert a small bill of articles which were over-
looked in making out the bill forwarded you last month. I
hope it will reach you before you fill that bill, that you may
put them up together :

1 leather travelling trunk, 2 pairs small shoes for child
2 yrs. old, 1 coffee mill, lace for eight or ten ladies' caps, 2
pair of ladies' dark kid gloves, rather over medium size, 1
dress shawl, worsted, 1 Latin dictionary, 1 Virgil with clavis,
1 pair spectacles, for Mrs. Fisher, set in silver, 4 rolls of
black quality binding about one inch wide.

N. B. — Should this bill not reach you before you fill the
bill last ordered, you will probably forward these articles
with other articles which you may forward for the mission-
aries.

P. S. — I shall report up to the first of April in a few
weeks and hope to be able soon to let you know the state of
things in California. Br. Johnson writes me that probably
nine-tenths of all the men in Oregon will go to the mines in
California next summer.'''^ I think this a large estimate.
Gold is found in small quantities in several places in Oregon,
and the prospects are said to be the most promising on the
Santi Am River. Whether it will be found sufficiently abun-
dant to justify working is yet uncertain. ^''^ No doubt our
government will order a geological and mineralogical sur-
vey of California and Oregon soon.'^^ Such a work would

177 The author was right. Probably about two-thirds of the young and mid-
dle-aged men went. F. G. Young, Financial Hist, of Ore., in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar.
VII:373.

178 Gold was already found in small quantities in the gravels on the Rogue
River, and along the Willamette. — G. H. Himes.

179 This survey was not made, although it was later agitated, especial^y by a
Mr. Evans. — G. H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 256

greatly aid emigrants in deciding the place of their loca-
tions. We need an unusual degree of grace to enable us to
be successful in the great work of the gospel ministry in
the midst of the unparalleled excitement which reigns
through the entire community. Sometimes I almost de-
spond in view of the present and coming scenes. All ar-
ticles of living are high — food, raiment and labor. Oregon
is almost empty of goods. Farming is being neglected to
an alarming extent. All improvements in mills and me-
chanics' work is about to be suspended and the rage is for
gold and how men can reach the mines. It will cost prob-
ably two or three times as much in dollars and cents to
support a family here this year as last. Yet we hope that in
a year or two things will become more settled and the facili-
ties for doing good will be much increased. All reports rep-
resent the moral condition of California alarmingly deplor-
able. Gambling, drunkenness and violence reign.

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.

Received July 3, 1849.

Sullivan's Creek, a fork of the Terwallomy,

May the 12th, 1849.
Dear Mrs. Fisher:

Colonel Hall and Edward Lenox, being about to return to
Oregon, I take my pen to write you a line. My health is
very good, through the tender mercies of Almighty God.
Yet our work is quite laborious at present and we get but
little gold in comparison to those who dug six or eight weeks
ago. Mr. Stone and myself are boarding with Mr. Jeflfrie
at three dollars per day. We expect to move camp in a few
days to the bars on the large streams. We may go south to
the Terwallomy, or we may go north toward the American
Fork. I cannot tell when I shall leave for home. Should
providence smile on my health, I think of staying till we can
get on the bars and till I can make enough to help the family
to some of the comforts of life. I have seen men take out 4,

256 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

6, 8 and 12 ounces in a day since I have been here, while
others within ten steps would not pay their board and work
ha^rd. I think the climate tolerably good, but washing day
after day with feet and hands in the water, and drinking to
intoxication and carousing through the night and sleeping
like pigs in the dirt, will generate disease in any climate. I
do not know whether it will be necessary for me to send
you any funds before I return. Should I conclude to stay
till July or August, and I have a good, safe conv-eyance, I
will send you $100 or $200. If you need anything to make
yourself and the children comfortable and can get a credit
till I come, do not let the family suffer. We hope to find
better diggings as soon as the rivers fall. We have a toler-
able variety of provisions in the mines, but it is not like
home. We have few religious privileges in the mines, and
nothing would induce me to spend three or four months in
the midst of profane swearing, drunkenness, gambling and
Sabbath breaking but the hope of providing for my dear
family, and that, too, while California and Oregon are in a
state of confusion. Next year probably these privileges will
be measurably past. We shall hardly expect to get any let-
ters from you till I go to San Francisco. I wish you would
write me to that place, to the care of Dr. C. L. Ross, and
let me know what articles of clothing and groceries the fam-
ily will need and I will do as well as I can for them. I
spend little time in thinking about moving while I am work-
ing hard every day but the Sabbath. I hope to see you in
August or the fore part of September at the farthest. Pos-
sibly in July. I would like to see you all and enjoy the so-
ciety of my family and neighbors a few days at least; but
I hardly dare to think of it now. Give my best respects to
Mr. Robinson and wife. I shall never forget their great
kindness, and should like to be their future neighbors, if
God so directs.

You can have no adequate idea of the vast influx of popu-
lation from all parts of the world to California. Do not
have Lucy Jane teach and work at home so as to make both

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 257

you and her sick. I hope Timothy will do well and take
good care of the garden, so that I can have a few good vege-
tables when I get home, and I will make him a little yellow
present. Ann Eliza and Sarah Josephine must be good
scholars and help Mother do the work and Father will re-
member them. Kiss Francis Wayland for me. I suppose
he is beginning to go alone. May God bless you all and
hasten the time when we may meet in peace and enjoy the
comforts of life.

Benjamin Woods, together with several other of our Ore-
gon men, was killed by the Indians a few weeks ago on the
American fork. But we have no fear from the Indians in
this part of the mines.

Yours in haste,

EZRA FISHER.

Terwallomy River, two miles above the mouth of Sulli-
van's Creek, July 1st, 1849.
Dear Mrs. Fisher:

I wrote you about one week ago by a Mr. Smith of Ore-
gon, who will soon leave the mines homeward bound. But
Mr. Bird, being about to leave tomorrow, I deem it a pleas-
ure to spend a few moments in communicating to my dear
family. I am usually well, although somewhat poisoned
with ivy. Stone is well ; also all the Oregon men with us,
except Mr. Bird. He is now recovering from an attack of
the flux. I should have left with him, if I had two or three
hundred dollars more. But the time for digging on the bars
of the rivers is near at hand. I have incurred the expense
and fatigue of the journey and to all probability this is the
last year that the mining business in California will break
up the farming and mechanical pursuits in Oregon, and, as
we very much need a few hundred dollars to settle ourselves
comfortably, educate our children and to aid in promoting
all the interests of Zion on the Pacific Coast, I think I shall
stay till perhaps the first or middle of next month, if my
health will allow me to continue to dig. But should I feel

258 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

any strong indications of approaching sickness, I should
embrace the first favorable opportunity of leaving the mines
and reaching home in safety. I am heartily tired of the
mines. I sometimes think they may be truly called the gam-
bler's and drunkard's heaven and the Christian's banishment.
How long I should be willing to remain in this imprison-
ment for the benefit of myself and family I know not. One
day I look towards the place of all my domestic attractions
and Christian relations and long for a release. I then think
I will not be a fool and entrust the education and support
of a rising family to the charity of the Christian public, or
to the slow and hard earnings of my hands at home, while
six, eight, ten and sometimes twenty and even more dollars
can be made here per day clear of expense at a season when
society is literally broken up in Oregon, and California too.
As far as my friends advise here, they recommend me to stay
two or three months at least, and then they say they will go
with me. I expected to do no great things in mining when
I gave you the parting hand. I have not been disappointed.
Yet to all human appearances I have done better than I
should have done to have remained in Oregon. The weath-
er for the last week has been very warm, the thermometer
rising' in the shade during the heat of the day to 106 degrees
and in the sun to 119 degrees, but yesterday and today it is
quite comfortable. We lay by about three hours in the heat
of each day. If you can live comfortably till I return. I
would rather Lucy Jane would stud}- than teach, yet I
would have you consult the good of the neighbors' children
as well as that of our own. I hope Timothy will improve
some in arithmetic and grammar, if he can. after doing the
necessary work for the family. Should you need flour or
anything else. I think you can get it on a short credit and
I will cheerfully pay it on my return. Keep Ann Eliza and
Sarah Josephine at their books part of each day if you can.
Kiss little Francis Wayland Howard for me. I want to see
you all very much. May God bless us all with life and
health and prepare us for a happy and prosperous meeting..

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 259

Tell Widow Bond I have sold her gun tolerably well and
hope she will be benefitted by it on my return. I can hardly
expect to be favored with so rich a blessing as a letter from
you till I reach San Francisco. I have written you five or
six letters since I reached that place. I almost envy you the
peas, potatoes, onions, gooseberries, strawberries, etc. I
hope you enjoy them all well, as well as the milk and butter
and eggs. Tell Timothy to save the oats and peas in Mr.
Robinson's barn if he can. Do not forget to remember me
affectionately to him and all the family. I should have writ-
ten Mr. Perry before this, but all my time is occupied, and I
have somewhat expected that he would be in the mines be-
fore this time. Mining business is generally very dull ; per-
haps half the miners are doing but little more than paying
expenses. Give my respects to all the friends. Write me
at San Francisco and let me know what groceries and cloth-
ing the family will need the coming winter.

Your affectionate husband and father,

EZRA FISHER,
To Lucy Fisher and all the children.
Mrs. Lucy Fisher,

Clatsop Plains, Oregon.
To be left at Astoria, care of Mrs. Ingles.

San Francisco, Cal., July 18, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

In a letter of the 29th of February I think I gave you my
apology for visiting California and going to the mines. I
now wish to say that my stay in the mines was a little
more than eight weeks, in which I am not conscious that I
have performed any essential service to the cause of Christ,
farther than that my influence went to suppress the out-
breaking sins of those with whom I associated. During
those eight weeks I preached but two Sabbaths, and I sup-
pose these were the only sermons which have ever been

260 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

preached in the mines. My present haste forbids my giving
you at this time anything more than a brief outHne of the
state of things morally in the mines. A large majority in
the part of the mines where I worked were from the Span-
ish-American republics and soldiers and sailors, many of
whom had either deserted from our country's service or run
away from merchant vessels. The various countries of
Europe, the Pacific isles and China, as well as several states
and territories of our own nation, were represented. Pro-
fanity, Sabbath breaking, gambling and drunkenness reign
unrestrained. Every trading shop within my knowledge
sells intoxicating spirits, and most of them sufifer gambling
tables. Perhaps there is not a place on the face of the
earth where gambling is conducted on so large a scale. It
may be said in truth that thousands of dollars are some-
times won at one table in a night. Many of the laborers dig
through the day and at night change their gold into coin
and gamble it away before they sleep. In short, the mines
may, with some degree of propriety, be called the gamblers'
and drunkards' heaven. And to crown the scene, the Chris-
tians' Sabbath is the great day of trade and bull fighting and
drunkenness and licentiousness. Professors of religion sell
more ardent spirits and provisions on that than any other
day in the week. I went to the mines principally to raise
something to give my family the bare comforts of life, hop-
ing, however, that I might in some measure unite bodily
labor with duties of the ministerial office. God has merci-
fully blessed me with about $1000 worth of gold, and to all
probability, if I had stayed three or four months longer and
had been blessed with a continuance of my health, I might
have raised from $2000 to $4000 more. But an abiding con-
viction of the duty I owe to the cause of Christ in Oregon
has induced me to direct my attention to the appropriate
field of my labors as soon as I could place my family above
immediate want. I have been in this place ten days await-
ing a vessel for Oregon. I shall sail tomorrow or next day.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 261

I supplied Br. Wheeler's^^° place in this town last Sab. while
he is making a visit (and I hope an important one) to Pueb-
lo, about 40 or 50 miles south of this place. One important
object he has in view is to secure, if possible, a site for a
literary institution. The location must be favorable if se-
cured.

Wrote you on the 29th of Feb. last, at which time I made
my report up to that time and, as I left before the middle
of March, I shall not think of being chargeable to your
Board till the time I arrive again at my own home. It af-
forded me great pleasure to meet Br. Wheeler and wife as
missionaries at San Francisco, when I reaqhed here last
April. He needs at least three or four able, efficient fel-
low laborers. ^^^ I hope your Board have them already un-
der appointment. For my part, I think my first business
after reaching home and spending a week or two in Clatsop
will be to visit the Willamette churches and endeavor to do
something" with the friends of education by way of agreeing
upon a site and securing it for an institution of learning for
the denomination in Oregon.

I have just received a letter from my dear wife inform-
ing me of the arrival of several boxes and a barrel of goods
at Oregon City, directed to me ; also one box directed to
Elder Johnson. I shall attend to that business as soon as
possible and acknowledge the receipt of the goods donated
by letters to the donors. I answered most or all of the let-
ters of which you speak in your last during last winter and
you have probably received the answers before this. Many of
our Oregon men are returning from the mines and I fondly
hope the great gold excitement will gradually abate in Ore-
gon from this time. Yet it is hard to predict what will be
the end of this unparalleled state of things. I understand
that Br. Snelling is in the mines. An excellent brother in
Oregon has given me the assurance that he will join me in

180 Rev. O. C. Wheeler arrived in California in February, 1849. Bancroft,
Hist, of Calif. \U:727. See also note 148.

181 Two other missionaries for California were appointed by the Baptist Home
Mission Society in 1850. — Bap. Home Missions in N. Am. 1832-1882, p. 339.

262 CORRESPOxXDENCE OF THE

purchasing two claims side by side and donate in common
with me the necessary amount of land for the site of an
institution and do all in his power to carry the work forward,
if I will go into the enterprise and move to the spot. He
has just carried home with him more than $4000 in gold
dust and coin. The question with me is whether I may
enter into this work without diminishing my usefulness as a
faithful minister. We may act too precipitously on this
subject. Should we take action on this subject before the
immigration from the States reaches Oregon and lands take
a great rise, as they have already done in California, I trust
your Board will at least acquiesce in the movement and in
that event have a suitable man ready for the mouth of the
Columbia.

Yours,
EZRA FISHER,
Received Sept. 13.

Oregon City, Nov. 14, 1849.
Rev. Benj M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. Missionary Society.
Dear Brother :

I shall employ my leisure moments during a few evenings
to transcribe my journal of a tour from my former residence,
up the Columbia River and through the Willamette Valley
in August, September and October last. Aug. 26th. —
Preached to an interesting congregation at Clatsop Plains af-
ter an absence of five months in California. Found it truly
pleasant to meet the few members of the church and address
them on the subject of the importance of fortifying the
youthful mind against the temptations peculiar to the Coast
and solemnly warned the youth of their great danger. 29th. —
Left my family for a tour through the Willamette Valley.

Sept. 4th. — This day reached Oregon City, after a journey
of almost an entire week of laboriously pulling the oar by
day and sleeping on the ground by night , which is no un-
common occurrence to those travelling this route. Found

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 263

the Baptist cause in this city somewhat improved and the
territorital legislature, in which are two of our Baptist
brethren, 1^2 jj^ session, and, providentially falling in with two
other brethren from the country, we held an interesting con-
ference on the subject of the necessity of taking action for
the establishment of a literary institution in Oregon and,
preparatory to this work, unanimously agreed to call a meet-
ing of friends of education in the denomination to be held
in this place on the 21st and 22d days of the present month.
This city, situated immediately below the great falls of the
Willamette, at the head of which two saw-mills, with two
saws each, and two flouring mills, ^^-^ are kept constantly
employed, begins to assume a business like appearance. The
town contains ten or twelve drygoods stores, a variety of
mechanic shops, five places of public worship — Methodist,
Baptist, Congregationalist, Secederi^-* ^j-,(^[ Roman Catholic —
and a population of about six hundred souls. At present
this is the most important place in the Territory and it will
always form the great connecting link between the Willam-
ette Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Here I spent four days
in visiting families and the members of the legislature.

8th. — Travelled 16 miles to the small church on the
Molalla over a rolling country interspersed with forests of
fir and open lands generally set thick with ferns and scat-
tering grass. Soil generally good, but settlements few.
9th. — Preached to an interesting congregation on the Molalla
prairie. This church, numbering about eight members, has
had preaching but a few Sabbaths since its constitution.
Manifest a laudable desire for a stated ministry and are
willing to contribute liberally, in proportion to their num-
bers, for its support.

182 These two Baptist members of the legislature were probably R. C. Kinney
and W. T. Matlock, members of the House. Rev. H. Johnson was chaplain of the
House. Bancroft. Hist, of Ore. 11:72; 1:633; 11:143." Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore.
In the first reference in Bancroft the initials of Matlock seem to be wrongly given
as W. S. The manuscript records of the Oregon City church show W. T. Matlock
to have been a member there.

183 The two flour mills were owned, respectively, by Dr. John McLoughlin
and the Oregon Milling Company. The sawmills were apparently also owned by
them and connected with the flour mills. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore, 11:2-5.

184 The Seceders were the New School Presbyterians.

264 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

10th. — Travelled up the Willamette Valley about 25 miles,
crossing four of the branches of Pudding River, all incon-
siderable streams. The face of the country is generally
about as level as the gently rolling prairies of the Mississippi
Valley, except for a few points of hill in passing out of the
Molalla prairie. Soil variable ; generally good, yet occasion-
ally inclining to be wet and clayey. Settlements sparse in
the morning, but in the afternoon more compact. Spent the
night with a brother formerly from Iowa. He is settled on
the southwest border of Howell's Prairie, 12 miles N. E. from
Salem and, far removed from church privileges, thirsting for
the golden waters. It is to be lamented that Christ is too
far thrust aside. Oh ! "What shall it profit a man if he
gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

11th. — Rode ten miles to Salem, a small town on the east
bank of the Willamette containing some twenty families.
Here I visited two Baptist families who seem desirous of
seeing the cause promoted in their place and have secured
two town lots for church purposes, should they be needed
for that object. ^^^ This is the point where the Methodists
have located their literary institution. The school at this
time numbers about 70 children of both sexes. This place
has a commanding central position in the Willamette Val-
ley, and will probably become a place of some importance in
future years. At present the health of the place is question-
able. We hope the day is near when an efficient Baptist
church will be gathered in this place. In the evening rode
ten miles up the valley of Mill Creek through a picturesque
and fertile part of the country ; spent the night with a Bap-
tist family who have been halting on the subject of mission
measures, but are now desirous of having a church consti-
tuted in their settlement, which may be done in a few
months, if we can find any preacher who can visit them

185 A Baptist church was organized in Salem in November, 1850, but seems
not to have survived. It was revived in 1859. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:17, 141.
See also the letter of Aug. 23, 1853.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 265

even monthly. ^^^ There are some eight or ten Baptist mem-
bers in the settlement.

12th. — Traveled 23 miles this day over some of the most
delightful part of Oregon ; my way lay along the borders of
the timber skirting the Willamette, crossing successively the
Santiam and Callipooia rivers. In passing the Santiam the
foot of the mountains recedes from the river and the prairies
on the east open out to ten or twelve miles in width and
forty or fifty miles in length, except as the streams are
sometimes skirted with rich groves of fir and oak. The
valleys of these streams sometimes penetrate far into the
bosom of the mountains, affording some of the richest and
best watered lands in the world. Farther east the mountains
rise, pile above pile, till at last may be seen some six or
seven lofty conical peaks, raising their summits far into the
region of perpetual snow. At one view the eye can survey
the luxuriant plains with their meandering streams, the ever-
varied mountain side clad with dense forests of evergreen
firs and the still more lofty snow-capped mountains, around
whose sides the clouds sport in wild confusion. Perhaps no
part of the world can exhibit, at one glance of the eye, so
admirable a combination of the beautiful, the grand and the
sublime.

13th. — Spent the day in examining the country in refer-
ence to the location of an institution of learning. I never
travel through this portion of the valley without being forc-
ibly impressed with the thought of the almost incomparable
beauty and grandeur which must strike the eye and cannot
fail to inspire the heart of every beholder, when civilization
shall have taxed all the resources of these plains and moun-
tains. How important then that the character of the crowds
that must soon people this valley should be formed by the
precepts of our Holy Law-giver !

186 This was probably the nucleus of the Shiloh (Turner) Raptist Church, or-
ganized August 31, 1850. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:9.

266 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

14th. — Visited a small church on the south fork of the
Santiam.is^ Find the few brethren ready to do something
liberal for the preached Word and in anxious expectation to
welcome Br. Cheadle, our colporter missionary, who has al-
ready arrived safe in the valley. ^^^

15th. — Travelled 25 miles to Mill Creek to meet a Sabbath
appointment which I left as I passed up the valley.

16th. — Preached to an interesting congregation and enjoy-
ed a good degree of consolation while they listened atten-
tively to the Word.

17th. — Having returned as far as Molalla, I preached at 3
P. M. to a small congregation of people, and on the 19th
reached Oregon City.

Sept. the 21st. — The friends of education convened, and
after the preaching of a short sermon the convention was or-
ganized by calling Br. Hezekiah Johnson to the chair and
electing myself clerk. But a few persons were present; but
all seemed impressed with the conviction that the time had
arrived when God in His providence called on us as a de-
nomination to take prompt measures to establish a perma-
nent school under the direction and fostering care of the
Baptist churches in Oregon.

22d. — Convention met ; I again preached, after which the
convention originated the Oregon Baptist Education Society
and adjourned the meeting to the church in YamHill County
on the 27th.

23d. — Spent the Sabbath with the church in the city and
twice addressed the people. Congregation good. Spent the
remainder of the week in visiting the church in Tualatin
Plains and preached twice on the Lord's day. This church
have in their bounds an ordained minister of excellent char-
acter, but unable to devote much of his time to the minis-

187 This was probably the Santiam Baptist Church, at Sodaville, Linn County.
It was organized in 1848 and became extinct about 1857. Mattoon, Bap. An. of
Ore. 1:8.

188 Rev. Richmond Cheadle, 1801-1875, was born in Ohio and came to Oregon
from Iowa in 1849. He was at this time colportor for the American Baptist Pub-
lication Society. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1 :70.

• REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 267

^i-y 189 'pi^g church wants and needs a man of more ability
who can devote his time to the great work of preaching the
gospel. A faithful minister might, the first year, expect
from this church his family provisions, except groceries, and
perhaps more. Your Board would do well to appoint a mis-
sionary for that church and vicinity. This church is situated
in the midst of an interesting farming country and within
from two to eight hours' ride of all the small towns rising
up on the Willamette from the Falls (Oregon City) to its
lower mouth, including Vancouver on the Columbia River.
This church is the oldest and, in truth, at present the most
promising church in the territory, having a number of in-
teresting young men.

25th. — Rode to YamHill Church to prepare for the meet-
ing; visited several families. 26th. — Visited three families,
among whom I met with a man apparently near the eternal
world, yet he seemed unwilling to have his mind led to the
subject of his spiritual welfare. I gave him a few words
of advice and left him to his own reflections. Oh, how
obvious it is that man naturally has no love for God ! . . .

27th. — Met the friends of education, one member from
each church except the Molalla church being present. After
a long and friendly deliberation, it was agreed to locate the
institution on the east bank of the Willamette River, about
eight miles above the mouth of the Callipooia River, and
about seventy above Oregon City. The Education Society
appointed a Board of Trustees for the institution and the
Board appoTiited me to take charge of the school and re-
quested me to remove as soon as practicable to the place
and open a school. Measures were also taken to raise $2000
for the purpose of erecting suitable buildings and to meet
the other necessary expenses. 28th. — Returned to Oregon
City through an interesting, picturesque country of prairie
and timber forty miles ; visited one family on the way and
reached the house of Br. Johnson late at night almost over-

lap This was probably Rev. William Porter. See note 163.

268 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

come with fatigue of body and anxiety of mind. We have
assumed vast responsibilities, yet our strength is weakness
and I fear but a very few realize the amount of responsi-
bilities we have assumed ; and then we must take one man
in part from the appropriate duties of the ministry till we
can obtain relief from the States. Yet we cannot do less, if
we do anything. The public will have no confidence in our
meeting and passing resolutions while we do not act. Schools
are greatly needed ; our hope of successful operation in Ore-
gon is in the youth. Other denominations are in advance of
us, and the Romans are already at work. Well, by the grace
of God, without which we are nothing, we must try. Pres-
ent emergencies alone reconcile me to the task. I shall
probably be called to preach almost every Sabbath and have
thrown under my immediate instruction a portion of the
most promising youth in the Territory. I confidently hope
relief will be speedily sent from the States in the person of
a well ciualified professional teacher to fill the place.

29th. — Attended the monthly meeting of the church at
Oregon City, preached on the occasion, and on the 30th
preached again. The subject, The Sacrament of the Lord's
Supper. Congregation attentive. In the evening addressed
Br. Johnson's Sabbath school.

Oct. 15th. — Having succeeded in procuring a passage
down the river, I went on board a whale boat, the best
method of conveyance we have as yet on our waters, and
commenced my journey homeward. 19th. — After four days
of hard rowing and three nights' lodging on the ground, I
reached home and found my family in usual health and en-
joying the smiles of a gracious providence. The scenery
along the Columbia from the mouth oi the Willamettt dov^n-
ward is highly romantic. For the first sixty miles the bot-
tom lands spread out from one to eight or ten miles in
width, interspersed with prairies covered with the most lux-
uriant grasses and weeds, but subject to occasional inunda-
tions in June and July. The timber of these bottom lands

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 269

is willow, balm of Gilead, alder, fir, oak and some maple and
ash. Much of this land is sufficiently elevated to admit of
settlement. Immediately back of these bottoms and not un-
frequently approaching the river's edge arise the low moun-
tains, sometimes rather abruptly, but seldom precipitously,
from 1000 to 5000 feet, groaning under a dense forest of
evergreen, fir, spruce and cedar, interspersed with maple and
alder. Lower down the river the mountains occasionally
arise from the water's edge with great abruptness and some-
times raise their basaltic walls like perpendicular battlements
500 or 600 feet, from whose heights the timber lands rise
with a gradual ascent and, during the rainy season, drain
their waters in imposing cascades over these buttresses of
nature into the bosom of the noble river whose rolling
floods perpetually wash their base. As you approach nearer
the ocean the scenery becomes more imposing. The river
widens into a broad sheet from six to fifteen miles in width ;
the high hills on either side, with, however, many exceptions,
rise abruptly from the water's edge and, clothed with their
evergreen forests, present an imposing contrast to the wide
spread expanse of waters pent up at their bases. Nor does
the grandeur of the scene decline till this vast accumulation
of water loses itself in the Pacific, where may be seen, to
the astonishment of the beholder, the warring of mighty
waters as they meet and dash their angry spray from the
summits of mighty billows, bidding defiance to all the in-
ventions of man.

No doubt that the great commercial emporium of Oregon
must rise into being in the vicinity of this imposing scenery;
and conditions are rapidly working to bring about the com-
mencement of this work. Milling companies are being
formed with a large capital for the erection of both water
and steam sawmills, and other mills are being erected ; town-
sites are selected and the rage for speculation in town prop-
erty is fast ripening into a mania. May God grant that the
children of light may be wise and prepare to follow this

270 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

extraordinary spirit of enterprise with the spirit of the gospel.
Yours in gospel bonds,

E. FISHER.

Oregon City, Ore., Nov. 31st, 1849.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br.:

After a long delay in consequence of our unsettled affairs
as Baptists in Oregon, and the multiplicity of cares that
come upon me, both of a religious and domestic character,
by means of my absence in California, I now take my pen
in hand to write you as near as possible the present state of
things with us and to answer a few of your inquiries. And,
first, I will acknowledge the receipt of a list of letters which
I have received from you : One under date of July 20th,
1848 ; one July 29, 1848 ; also thte box of goods enclosing
with them the bill of lading. Goods were received in good
order. With this I have an inventory and bill of lading of
goods shipped on board the Serampore. One under date of
Aug. 8th, 1848, and with it, I think, a commission No. 1281,
April 1, 1848. Also a commission for Elder V. Snelling.
Br. Snelling is yet in the gold mines and will not probably
return until next spring, consequently he will not be able to
fill that appointment. One under date of October 2, 1848 ;
one from Jas. M. Whitehead, Nov. 1st, 1848; one from your-
self under date Nov. 1, 1848, accompanying an invoice of
goods shipped on board the bark Whiton, Roland Gelston,
master, with the bill of lading. Goods all arrived safe and in
good order, except that the shoes and donation goods had
become somewhat moldy — not materially damaged. Also
one under date of Nov. 23, 1848. I have just written and
forwarded a letter to Rev. S. S. Cutting, editor of the N. Y.
Recorder; also one to the ladies of the First Bap. Church
in N. Y., acknowledging receipt of their valuable donation.

On the twenty-third of August I arrived in Clatsop Plains
from California, after a passage of twenty-six days. Found

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 271

my family in good health. I immediately entered upon the
duties of a missionary and, after preaching one Sabbath, left
home on a tour in the Willamette Valley. On reaching this
city I found two of our brethren in the legislature and two
more from the country present. Upon deliberating upon the
importance of immediate action on the subject of locating
and putting into operation an institution of learning under
the direction of the denomination, it was agreed to call a
meeting to be held at this place on the 21st and 22d days of
September to take action on the subject. The meeting was
accordingly held and an educational society was formed ; but
in consequence of the small number in attendance the meet-
ing was adjourned to the 4th of October to the YamHill
Church. At "that meeting every church in the Territory but
one was represented, and the convention voted to locate the
institution on the Willamette River about 70 miles up the
river from this place and appointed a brother to repair im-
mediately to the place and secure the site. It was then un-
derstood that the land was vacant. The convention also ap-
pointed Rev. Richmond Cheadle to labor two months for the
purpose of raising two thousand dollars for erecting a school
house and covering other necessary expenses. The conven-
tion also invited me to move to the place and take charge of
the school and voted to pay me $400 and to request the
Home Missionary Society to continue my appointment with
the usual salary of $200, regarding that amount as barely
sufficient to sustain my family for the year. Solely from the
consideration of the fact that the exigency of the case seem-
ed to demand immediate action, and we have no man in
Oregon but myself to whom our brethren are willing to look
to fill this place till a competent teacher can be found and
sent us from the States, I thought it best to comply wiih
the call. The convention also instructed me to correspond
with you on the subject of engaging a well qualified teacher
to take charge of the school. We hope to be able to pay a
teacher $800 salary. Thus you perceive the reason why I ad-
dress yovi from this place. I have just arrived here with my

272 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

family. We have just learned that the site on which we
have fixed for the location of our institution is not vacant
and we have concluded to spend the winter in this place. [
shall open a school here within a few days and preach in
this place and the adjoining towns on Sabbaths. I think it
rather probable the result will be that we shall finally locate
our school in the immediate vicinity of this city. Public
sentiment of our wiser brethren seems to be setting strongly
this way. By the opening of the spring the question will be
decided whether we locate permanently at this place or in
the center of the Willamette Valley. We hope to be able to
buy the lands and erect the first temporary buildings and
perhaps support our first teacher without calling on the lib-
erality of our eastern brethren directly for funds. But we
must look to you for a competent teacher qualified to teach
the Latin and Greek languages, natural science and mathe-
matics, and it will be very desirable if he could teach music.
Money is plentifuP^^ in this country and education is held in
popular favor. Our plan will be to find some Baptist friends
who will buy and hold a claim of 640 acres and donate a oor
tion of it for a site now while land is cheap. Will you find
us a teacher and send him to our assistance as soon as a
properly qualified one can be obtained? My removal from
the mouth of the Columbia renders it important that your
Board find a young man of talent and appoint him to labor
at Astoria and Clatsop Plains. A man is also much needed
in the church in Tualatin Plains. The church in that place
will supply a minister's table from the first and the place is
important in location. I shall report at the expiration of
this quarter for all the time I have served as missionary
since I returned from California, but I shall forward you a
portion of my journal the next mail.

I am much interested in the private letter. Almost all ar-
ticles of drygoods sell at from 100 to 300 or 400 per cent ad-

190 The increase in the supply of money in Oregon was, of course, the result
of the California mines. Some gold was coined in Oregon City, and Mexican and
Peruvian silver dollars had come in large quantities. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore.
11:52-55.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 273

vance on the market prices in New York. Farming uten-
sils, castings, especially stoves, tinware, nails, crockery, pat-
ent pails, washtubs, brass kettles and household furniture of
all kinds sell very high, and all kinds of fabrics made of
leather (shoes, boots, saddles, bridles, etc.), ready-made
clothing, calicos and all kind of cotton goods, flannels, silks
and fashionable woolen goods for ladies' clothing, woolen
hose and half hose, etc. I hope your friend still continues of
the same mind. I think I can find a faithful, experienced
Baptist brother who will like to embark in the business. He
is now in California for his stock of goods. His name is
Levi A. Rice, formerly from Ohio', whose moral character
stands high. Should your friend wish farther information
and still wish to do something through the medium of
trade for the moral and religious condition of Oregon, I hope
God will open the door for him. We have also another
brother of good standing and also an attorney-at-law who is
about entering into trade in this place, who no doubt might
be induced to enter into this kind of business. Freight from
San Francisco to this place costs as much as freight from N.
Y. to this place. Your friend will readily see the advantage
of shipping directly to the Columbia. Our merchants all
trade through California. Consequently it is their policy to
discourage all capitalists in eastern cities from embarking
directly in the Oregon trade. Oregon has suffered long
from this selfish policy.

Yours with Christian esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Feb. 9, 1850.

Oregon City, Jan. 8th, 1850.
Dear Br. Hill:

. . . You have probably learned before this that I am
at this place engaged in teaching and preaching. A convic-
tion of duty rather than a desire to change has brought me
to this place and this employment. At this period in my life
I have not the most distant desire to engage in teaching and

274 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

thus abate my ministerial labors. But the time has evidently
come when we, as a denomination, must act in refernce to
securing a site and putting into operation a school or we lose
an important kind of influence with the rising generation, and
even with the present acting community.

The public are asking for schools and will have them. If
then we select our site and leave the schools to spring up
hereafter, the public will repose no confidence in our enter-
prise and other denominations will educate not only the chil-
dren generally, but even those of our Baptist families. And
then we need, very much need, some benevolent object
around which we may rally the denomination, and I know
of no one benevolent object in which they will so readily be
brought to harmonize and which will serve as a precursor
to all the benevolent enterprises of the gospel as an institu-
tion of learning under the control and instruction of Baptist
men and dependent on the denomination for support. If we
undertook the work, I felt fully assured that I must give a
portion of my time at least to the work till such time as
we could secure the labors of a professional teacher from the
States. Again, should the Lord of all hearts convert our
children and they look to the work of the ministry, they
must either enter upon that work uneducated, or we must
provide the means of education for them in Oregon. We
cannot expect to send our sons back across the Rocky Moun-
tains or by way of the ocean to the States to be educated,
and they are fast growing up around us. With these and
many other considerations rushing upon my mind, I was
led to the conviction that it was my duty for the tim.e being
to enter upon the work of teacher as well as preacher till
we can be supplied from other sources. Perhaps Br. John-
son and myself will be enabled to perform nearly as much
ministerial labor and sustain the school, if it is continued in
this place, as we should if I had continued at Clatsop, al-
though I left that place at last with great reluctance. We
shall probably finally fix upon a site for our institution im-
mediately adjoining this city plat, about half a mile from the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 275

river on a point which will have a commanding view of the
river below and a portion of the city as soon as the timber
is removed. We have provided for forty acres of land.^^^ I
suppose Br. Johnson has given you the particulars. I there-
fore will leave this subject for the present.

I have rather a promising school. ^^- How long it may re-
main so is with the All Wise to disclose. We shall much
need classical books, such as are in use in our best schools in
the States, among which we must have a few Latin and
Greek grammars, lexicons and such preparatory books as
are required in fitting for college in the old States. Also
Roman and Greek antiquities and classical dictionaries. We
hope to make arrangements as soon as we can to order such
books as we shall need. But should you find any liberal
friend of education in Oregon, I hope you will do somethmg
for us by way of securing a few books of the above descrip-
tion.

We intend to make vigorous efiforts the coming summer to
erect a good wooden school house, perhaps with two apart-
ments and a boarding house, notwithstanding the enormous
price of lumber and all building materials and labor. Lum-
ber is now worth $100 per thousand feet; carpenter's labor
is worth from $8 to $12 per day. Flour is worth $25 per
barrel, potatoes $4 per bushel and all other provisions pro-
portionately high. You will readily see that all our expenses
must be very high, and there is no immediate prospect of
their becoming lower. All kinds of labor are richly reward-
ed except that of preachers and teachers.

191 This was on the Ezra Fisher Donation Land Claim, which adjoins on the
east the town site of Oregon City. The author, Rev. H. Johnson and J. Jeffers
bought the right to this tract of over 600 acres, and the author obtained a patent
to it from the government. See his letters of March 29, 1850, and Nov. 12, 1850.
The purchasers agreed to give the college a tract, and fifty-one acres were later
deeded to the trustees of Oregon City University, under which name the institu-
tion was chartered. Some of the timber on the claim was very large. One red fir
measured 300 feet in height.

The view mentioned included the Willamett River and three snow-capped peaks
— St. Helens, Adams and Hood.

192 A niece of Hezekiah Johnson had taught a private school in the church
building for several months, sometime previous to this. Besides the author's school
there were at this time only three other schools in the town — two under Roman
Catholic auspices, and a private school for girls under Mrs. N. M. Thornton. See
letter of Feb. 8th of this year.

276 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

Our Board of Trustees have requested me to ask that yovr
Board of the H. M. Soc. continue to appoint me with a salary
of $200, in addition to what I shall receive for teaching, as
they expect I shall preach nearly every Sabbath and spend
some time in visiting the churches and attending public
meetings. Your Board should not neglect a single month to
secure a suitable man for the mouth of the Columbia River
and to have him on the way immediately. The place is too
important to be neglected.

Accept, dear brother, my grateful acknowledgement of the
clothes you sent me. They fit well and are the best I have
to appear in public in. The Lord grant you your reward.
The clothing we have received from the States has been of
essential service to my family, and I know not how I should
have been able to have sustained my family without them.
Let our friends known that partially worn woolen clothes
aid us in publishing the gospel in this new and neglected
territory.

I wrote you last about the 8th and 9th of Nov. and then
thought I should have forwarded these sheets in a few weeks,
but the labors of my school and other duties have prevented
till the present. You will soon hear from me again on the
subject of your friend's commercial enterprise and by way
of my report, etc.

Yours affectionately.

EZRA FISHER.
Received, April 6, 1850.

Oregon City, Jan. 26, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

Your letter of June, blank day, 1849, and June 28th, were
received on the 18th inst., acknowledging the receipt of sun-
dry letters from me, one of which contained an order for
goods. I trust you have filled the bill and forwarded the
goods, with the replacing of those lost on the Undine. I

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 277

think rather unfavorably of the Undine wreck, falsely so
called, and I have not unbounded confidence in Capt. Gelston.
Hte presented a friend of mine with an order on me for
freight on the goods you shipped by him for me to Cali-
fornia, after giving you a receipt on the bill of lading. The
order was not paid and I presume he will not present me
with his bill as I retain his receipt in the bill of lading. I
wish to give you a statement of facts relative to our mis-
sionary affairs in Oregon. When we came to Oregon, Ore-
gon City was the only place worthy the name of a town in
the whole Territory. Br. Johnson seemed providentially
thrown into this city. I was providentially thrown into Tu-
alatin Plains. I explored the settled part of the country
generally, and in view of the fact of Br. Snelling being placed
at YamHill, a place somewhat central in the Willamette Val-
ley, and in view of the prospect that a place of importance
would soon rise at the mouth of the Columbia, Br. Johnson
complied with my suggestion that it was important to fill
that opening. I removed to Astoria, but finding little could
be done there till commerce increased, yet being conscious of
the importance of the point prospectively, I removed eight
miles to Clatsop Plains, where we have a few good members,
thinking to labor there till circumstances should favor an at-
tempt to build up an interest at Astoria. Things were new,
everything was to be done, both in the way of providing for
my family, for common schools and for the cause of Christ.
The means of subsistence, except clothing and mechanics'
labor, were cheap. We knew the policy of your Board in
relation to the amount they give to aid the churches in sus-
taining each missionary and, in the main, we approved of it.
We could not expect any very rapid changes in the settle-
ment of our territory, so far removed from all other settle-
ments. Yet we were confident that our position was of great
importance. Our brethren were generally men who had re-
ceived their religious training in the West and knew but
little of system in the support of the ministry and indeed
had not yet generally learned the importance of ^ ministerial

278 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

support. Were we to ask the Board for $600 salary, that
would appear like an enormous expenditure in comparison to
the relative results and importance of the field. We, there-
fore, concluded that to abandon the field would be disastrous
and our only alternative, in view of all circumstances, would
be to practice economy, even to parsimony, and, while the
country was new, to meet the necessities of our families,
which remained unprovided for by the Board and our breth-
ren and friends, by our own industry and that of our families
till we could have time to correct false views in our brethren
here and the age of the country would insure us entire sup-
port. I know not how it has been with Br. Johnson, but I
have never attempted to conceal from your Board the fact
that sheer necessity impelled me to labor, working with my
hands to supply my immediate wants. Had you forwarded
to me the $200 in cash, that sum would not have bought $65
worth of clothing and groceries in N. Y. My only alterna-
tive seemed to be to order goods for my family supplies.
This process has taken from one to two or three years to
get our returns. With this state of things I have been in-
clined to wait with patience. Could we have received our
pay from N. Y. at your prices at the end of each year, we
might have been able to give ourselves mostly to the gospel
ministry up to the time of the commencement of the gold
excitement. Since that time changes have gone on with un-
paralleled rapidity, till the time has now come when, instead
of $200, it would require $1800 to $2000 to give my family a
comfortable support at Oregon prices. Gold is found so
abundant that our men will go and get it in preference to
farming their rich lands, till potatoes are worth $5 per bushel
and flour is from $25 to $30 per barrel, and all kinds of living
extravagantly high. Gold is found on the Umpqua and
Rogue rivers in Oregon, so that our men will probably mine
near home next summer. ^^^ We therefore expect a great in-

193 Mining was just beginning in these valleys. The summer of 1850 saw two
hundred miners at work in the Umpqua Valley, but the real boom came some time
later. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:184-186.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 279

flux of population into our Territory the coming year.^^'^
Farming will revive and sawmills will be multiplied through
the country bordering on our navigable waters. We confi-
dently hope for a more settled state of things and expect our
brethren will soon become liberal in the support of the gos-
pel. I could now settle myself in Tuallity Plains and have
my family table supplied, excepting groceries. Then $200
or $300 would meet all my expenses, by ordering my cloth-
ing and groceries from N. Y. But we must have a school,
and our brethren think my duty calls me to take charge of it
till you can send us suitable teachers. I may realize about
$1000 per year for teaching, if we continue the school in this
place, and be able to preach every Sabbath. Next week the
friends of education meet at this place and no doubt they
will agree in opinion with Br. Johnson and myself on the
place of location. We have forty acres of land cleared from
all incumbrances immediately adjoining the city plat for the
site, and can build within half a mile from the Willamette
River on a commanding eminence. In the event of my teach-
ing, Br. Johnson will travel through the Willamette V^alley
the coming season and I shall spend my Sabbaths with this
church and at Milwaukie,^^^ a business place springing up six
miles below this place on the river. My first quarter of the
school will close next week. School has been large and I
have been compelled to call in the aid of my eldest daughter
part of the time. We shall continue the school in the Bap-
tist meeting house^^^ till next fall or the spring following
and, in the meantime, we shall make an efifort to build a
good school house, with two apartments, on the contemplated

194 See note 154.

195 Milwaukie, only recently laid out, had a population of 500 in the fall of
1850. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:251, quoted from Oregon Spectator, Nov. 28, 1850.

196 Among the pupils who attended the school while it was still held in the
meeting-house were Theodore Matlock, Almond B. Holcomb, William G. Welch,
Isaac Holman, John Welch, F. Dillard Holman, E- M. White, W. L. White, Lucy
Jane G. Fisher, E. T. T. Fisher, Ann Eliza Fisher, Franklin Johnson, W. C. John-
son, Anne Abernethy, Abner P. Gaines, Noble W. Matlock, Jane Matlock, Ellen
Matlock, William Bullack, William Cason, Adoniram Cason, James Cason, Maria
Moffett, William ^Nloflfett, Julia A. Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, Amy Johnson, Sarah
Josephine Fisher, Lucy More, Rebecca Parrish, Pauline Tompkins, Helen Tompkins,
Josephine Hunsaker, Horton Hunsaker, Jacob Hunsaker, and Medorum Crawford. —
Recollections of W. C. Johnson and W. G. Welch.

280 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

site, although lumber is from $100 to $150 per thousand feet
and carpenters' and joiners' labor is from $8 to $12 per day.
Cannot some friends furnish us with a bell weighing- from
100 to 400 pounds? You may learn by the bearer of this that
a large company is forming, or rather is formed, to build up
a town immediately adjoining Cape Disappointment with
steam mill, steam boat,^^'' etc. This is adjoining the point
which the government will first fortify on the north side of
the Columbia at the entrance from the ocean. The enterprise
will probably succeed, not however to the prejudice of As-
toria. I am pained in spirit every moment I think of that
point (at the mouth of the Columbia) being left destitute of
a Baptist minister. Your Board cannot be too forcibly re-
minded of the importance of early occupying that part of
the field. The N. Y. of Oregon must spring up in that vi-
cinity very soon. The first steamer which comes into the
Columbia to run between this city and the mouth of the Co-
lumbia will stop the shipping at Astoria. We have a
small church at Clatsop Plains, not quite extinct, which
would receive a minister and do what they can for his sup-
port. If we had a man at the mouth of the river now, a
block 200 feet square and located in the most favorable part
of this new town, called Lancaster, would be donated for
church purposes. Elder Snelling is in California and I
learn that he has made arrangements to move his family to
that territory.^^^ He has not labored under the commission
you sent me. We feel that we must have a missionary or
two more for the Willamette Valley. One is needed at
Salem on the east side of the river and one on the opposite
side of the river with the Rickreal Church or the YamHill
Church.

Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.
Received May 8, 1850.

197 This was later known as Pacific City, then Unity, and then Ilwaco. — G. H.
Himes.

198 Snelling died in California in 1855. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:44.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 281

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Feb. 8th, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. :

I take my pen in hand to give you the Constitution of the
Oregon Bapt. Educational Soc, together with a few of the
resolutions passed at the late meeting of its Board held in
this city Feb. 2nd. As we have as yet no means of publishing
the proceedings of our meetings, we must transcribe and send
all our proceedings in letter form : —

Constitution of the Oregon Baptist Education Society as
adopted by convention, Sept. 22, 1849.

Art. 1st. — This Society shall be called the Oregon Bapt.
Education Society.

Art. 2nd. The objects of this society shall be to promote
the cause of education generally; to locate one literary in-
stitution, or more, for the benefit of the Baptist denomi-
nation in Oregon Territory ; to appoint a board of trus-
tees for each of the same ; to hold such board or boards
responsible for the faithful execution of the trust commit-
ted to them ; to aid in the education of indigent pious
youth of promising gifts in our churches and to raise funds
to carry into effect the above named objects.

Art. 3rd. — The officers of the Society shall be a President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and five Directors who
shall constitute a board for the transaction of business, all
of whom shall be members of regular Baptist churches, and
three of whom shall form a quorum whose respective duties
shiall be the same as those usually exercised by officers of
the same name in similar societies, who shall be chosen an-
nually, but shall hold their offices until their successors are
chosen.

Art. 4th. — Any person may become a member of this So-
ciety by subscribing to this Constitution.

282 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Art. 5th. — This Society shall hold its annual meeting's at
the time and place of the annual meetings of the Willam-
ette Baptist Association.

Art. 6th. — It shall be the duty of the President to call
special meetings of this Society at the request of any two
members of the Board.

Art. 7th. — The officers of this Society shall be empow-
ered to regulate their own meetings and to make their own
by-laws, not inconsistent with this Constitution.

Art. 8th. — This Constitution may be altered or amended
at any annual meeting of the Society by a vote of two-
thirds the members present.

In view of the improbability of securing the property
where the locating committee had fixed for the site of an
institution and in view of the manifest providences of God,
the Education Society convened Feb. 3d. Elder H. Johnson
called to the chair. Moderator prayed. On motion it was
voted to reconsider so much of the proceedings of the So-
ciety as it related to the location of an institution of learning
in the center of the Willamette Valley.

After hearing proposals from the brethren who had pur-
chased the Barlow claim in reference to this object, it was
unanimously voted to locate the Baptist institution on the
forty acres of the above named claim immediately adjoining
the city plat of Oregon city.'^^ The site will command an
excellent view of the river below the town and the lower
part of the city. Providence has seemed to close up almost

199 The tract is now known on official maps as the Ezra Fisher Donation Land
Claim, and adjoins the Oregon City Claim on the east. No college buildings were
ever erected there. The building, as recorded later in these letters, was put up in
Oregon City.

This Baptist institution was only one of a number of Christian denominational
institutions which were projected in these days when the state had as yet failed to
provide adequately for public instruction. Some of these institutions died early;
others, as at Monmouth and Corvallis. were merged into state institutions. A few
survive as Christian academies and colleges.

Among those which perished were the Clackamas "female seminary" at Oregon
City, a college at Eugene, and academies at Sheridan and Santiam. Among the
surviving schools are Willamette University, Pacific University, Albany College, and
McMinnville College. To this last was turned over the remnant of the property of
that Oregon City college, whose early history is given in these letters.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 283

every other favorable point and open up this point unan-
ticipated by all and unsought, and by this means throw us
as a denomination in juxtaposition with the Romans, and
in the only position where they may be successfully met.
Here they are making great efforts to secure the work of
educating the children and youths of our city and surround-
ing country. They have erected a nunnery about 70 feet
by 30, two and one half stories, with a school in operation
under a lady superior and five assistant sisters of charity
and have about sixteen or twenty female children from fam-
ilies in our city. One of the priests teaches all the male
scholars he can draw under his instruction, which, by the
way, have been very few (not more than 8 or 10) since I
opened my school. My school the last quarter numbered
more than fifty.

We have also a female school in this place taught by a
Presbyterian lady.^oo

On motion it was unanimously voted to request Elder
Ezra Fisher to continue the charge of the school in Ore-
gon City and that the Board of the A. B. H. M. Soc.
be requested to continue him as a missionary in this
place and vicinity at a salary of two hundred dollars a
year. The Society voted to make an effort to raise four
thousand dollars the ensuing year to erect a suitable
school house and to meet the incidental expenses of the
Society. The Society voted to appoint Elder Richmond
Cheadle its agent for two months, with a salary of one hun-
dred dollars per month, to carry the above resolution into
effect.

Voted to request the Board of the A. B. H. M. Soc.
to use their influence to procure us a bell, weighing
from 200 to 500 pounds, and classical books such as are
in use in literary schools in New England and New York.

Since the last named meeting the proprietors of the
claim have agreed to give to the institution about ten or

200 This was Mrs. N. M. Thornton. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. II :35.

284 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

twelve acres more of land lying immediately adjoining
the site and we hope for a smiall donation from the ad-
joining claim.201 j must renew my private request that
you find us a well qualified, literary young man and send
him out to our relief as soon as practicable. I cannot
think of being long confined five days in seven within
the walls of a schoolhouse while so much is to be done
in the ministry and th,ere are so few laborers. But at
present our brethren have so willed it and I comply from
a conviction of duty rather than from a desire for the
office. I wish to leave this matter with God. I trust I
shall be able to make out my report up to this time next
week.

I am as ever your unworthy brother and fellow-laborer
in Christ's vineyard, EZRA FISHER,

Missionary in Oregon.

Received May 27, 1850.

Oregon City, Feb. 19, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the ap-
pointment of the Home Mission Society from the 22nd of
August, 1849, up to the first of Oct. for the term of ten
weeks, it being the first report which I have made for
the year commencing the first day of April, 1849. I
have labored ten weeks in the quarter, preached fourteen
sermons, delivered six lectures on the subject of Sunday
schools and religious education, visited religiously fifty
families and one common school, baptized one, traveled
to and from appointments 535 miles. The remaining
items of the report I have been unable to do anything for,
except that the Sunday school in Clatsop Plains is con-
tinued with three Baptist teachers and about twenty
scholars; about 135 volumes in the library. For a more

201 This donation from the adjoining claim was never made.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 285

detailed account of my labors this quarter I refer you
to my journal, which I forwarded you in December last,
if I mistake not.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.
Missionary in Oregon.

Oregon City, Feb. 20, 1850.
Herein I send you my report of labor for the third
quarter of the year commencing April 1st, the quarter
commencing October first, 1849. Labored thirteen weeks,
preached fourteen times, delivered thirteen Sunday
school lectures and twenty lectures to my day school,
attended three church meetings and visited eighteen fam-
ilies religiously. But have done nothing on the other
various subjects required in the form of reports in the
commission. The reason I assign is the circumstance of
my being called to remove to Oregon City and the new
and somewhat peculiar relation I have consented to sus-
tain for the time being as a teacher in our newly organ-
ized school for Oregon.

The time has come when all these benevolent enter-
prises should have a home in the hearts of all the Bap-
tists in Oregon and should be responded to by benevolent
action ; and I think something will soon be done on the
subjects of home missions, foreign missions and the
Bible cause, as well as for our institution of learning.
My school has been flourishing the past quarter and num-
bered between sixty and seventy different scholars. I
had about ten young men and lads who declaimed each
two weeks and about 20, male and female, who wrote
and read their compositions each alternate two weeks.
Two boys in algebra, one young lady in natural philos-
ophy, about a dozen in geography and about the same
number in English grammar, about twenty in arithme-
tic and two in history. The present term is an unfav-

286 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

orable season of the year. I have taught but one week,
have 24 and the prospects fair for about 40 scholars.
At a meeting of the board of the institution, held in this
place on the 15th instant, it was resolved to name the in-
stitution the Oregon City College.

I will now proceed to give you a report as near as I can
calculate for the quarter ending April 1st, 1850. My field
of labor comprises Oregon City, Milwaukie and vicinity.
I have labored thirteen weeks in the quarter, preached
sixteen sermons, attended three church meetings. Ad-
dressed Sabbath schools twelve times, my day school
fifteen times on religious subjects. Delivered one tem-
perance lecture. Visited religiously thirty-five families
and individuals. I have assisted in the celebration of
the Lord's Supper twice ; attended one meeting of the
Oregon Baptists' Education Society. Have the charge
of the Sabbath school in Oregon City , with 20 schol-
ars and four teachers and 200 volumes in the library.
The remaining requisitions in the instructions I have
omitted, as nothing is yet done for them. Our congre-
gations in this place and Milwaukie are increasing and
it seems obvious to all our friends at least that the
hand of God is in our attempts to establish our insti-
tion in this place. Marked attention is generally
paid to the preached word and we fondly hope that
God will visit us with His spirit, notwithstanding all
the rage for gold and speculation with which we are
surrounded. All of which is respectfully submitted.

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary in Oregon.
Received May 27, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., March 29, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

Yours of July 14, 1849. addressed to me in Califor-
nia, containing a copy of the one you forwarded in

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 287

June, yours under date October 15th, 1849, accompany-
ing my commission bearing date Apr. 1, 1849, and
yours of Dec. 10, 1849, have all been received within
a few days, the last of which I hasten to answer as
briefly and as directly as the complicated circumstan-
ces will admit. You may rest assured that it affords
us great pleasure in Oregon to have so strong assur-
ances thjat our brethren on the other side of the moun-
tains cherish so correct and liberal views in relation to
the future importance of Oregon and we are still more
cheered to discover the almost impatient anxiety you
manifest in our prompt action on the subject of locat-
ing and bringing into existence a school for the bene-
fit of the Baptists in Oregon.

I have only to say that when I wrote you in Feb.
and July the denomination as such in Oregon had not
been consulted on the subject in any of its peculiar re-
lations and my object in writing you from San Fran-
cisco was rather to apprise you of the course marked
out in my own mind for my immediate actions than
to ask our eastern brethren to aid us immediately.
But God in His providence has seemed to mark out
for us a course in an unexpected manner and in a re-
lation which we had little anticipated and now we are
compelled to yield to the manifest providential indica-
tions or sacrifice the most important local position in
the Territory and with it the little public confidence we
are beginning to secure. This is the only point in Or-
egon where Romanism and Protestantism can be
brought to bear directly upon each other. The nuns
have here a school and we understand the Jesuits contem-
plate establishing a college in the immediate vicinity.
We have good reason to suppose that other denomina-
tions would have soon fixed upon this place if we had
not secured our site first. I have already informed you
that we ■ have secured a land claim immediately ad-
joining the claim on which Oregon City stands at an ex-

288 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

pense of $5000. Br. Johnson assumed one half of the debt
and I paid $1250, which consumed all my available means,
and we found a friend of mine who paid $1250. This was
the only method we could hit upon by which we could secure
anything like a suitable amount of land for college purposes
near this place without paying from $8000 to $15000. We
have appropriated about fifty acres of the claim, in the most
eligible situation and within about half a mile of the most
populous part of the town, to college purposes and the Trus-
tees accepted the same. Since I last wrote you we have se-
cured a town lot, 66 feet by 100, in a central part of the city
as a donation.-'^^ This lot is now valued at $300. We wish
to put on this lot a building, 66 by 30, two stories, the pres-
ent season, if possible, to be occupied by the school till such
time as we can sustain a school on the college premises.
The building and lot will then sell for more than the first
cost or, what is rather probable, may be appropriated to a
preparatory department. By this plan we shall be able to
keep a full school from this time forward, with suitable
teachers. Should the price of lumber fall, as is probable it
will, we shall labor hard to raise the requisite means and
build this summer and fall. Yet we have few men in Oregon
to whom we may look to give us the requisite means. Br.
Johnson, one other brother and myself have subscribed $650
toward that object. Our school now occupies the Baptist
meeting house and must still occupy it till we can build.
We also need a boarding house erected so that we can be
prepared to board as cheap as board can be had in the
country. This must be done or we shall fail of benefitting
children of Baptist families in the country. Unless funds
can be raised in the States to the amount of five or six
thousand dollars, this part of the work must be delayed.
Now we think that the school itself will afford a good teach-
er from six hundred to a thousand dollars salary. We think
we can manage to furnish him a garden and other perquisites

202 This was lot 8, block 97, of the Oregon City townsite, and was southwest of
the present Barclay School building. — Clackamas County Deed Records.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 289

to the amount of from one to two hundred dollars. We
think by these means, if the friends in the States could raise
$200, so that he could provide his family clothing at N.
York, we can sustain a good teacher. We would suggest
that he leave his measure for all his clothes with you, as it
costs 30 dollars in California gold to get a coat made at a
tailor's shop in Oregon and all other sewing is propor-
tionately high. $200 in New York is worth $1000 here in
the line of clothing, etc.

We must have a teacher well qualified to be a popular
teacher in a New England Academy and one who wishes to
to make teaching his business for life. It would be de-
sirable that he have a wife qualified to teach in the primary
department, or to teach a ladies' school. It will be of little
use to send us a stupid, half-educated man, with little com-
mon sense and ignorant of human nature. Should he be a
good singer, and preacher too, it will be all the better. We
can find him work. We want and must have, if possible, al-
most everything necessary to afford facilities for students to
prosecute their studies without serious inconvenience. We
need a system of common school books so that we can furn-
ish our scholars with the best approved books at moderate
prices, when they enter the school. Our school will soon
have scholars commencing a preparatory course and we
must therefore have text books. We then want common
school books, from the spelling book to the rhetorical reader.
Perhaps Saunder's series is as good as you can furnish us.
We are now using these as reading books, but there are no
more to be obtained in the country. We are using Thomp-
son's Arithmetic ; perhaps that is as good as you can send
us_203 -\Yg use Brown's and Wells' English grammar. We
have a few in natural philosophy; we use Olmsted's. We

203 James B. Thomson had a number of works on arithmetic published by-
Clark and Maynard, New York.

Denison Olmsted, of Yale, had a number of works on natural philosophy by the
same publishers; and by R. B. Collins and E. D. Trueman of Cincinnati. — American
Catalogue for 1876, and O. A. Roorbach, Bibliotheca Americana. W. H. Wells'
Grammar was published in Boston, and Goold Brown's Grammar was published in
New York. Ibid.

290 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

have some in algebra and shall soon need a few Latin and
Greek grammars, readers, and lexicons. Now it seems al-
most indispensable to our success that we have the most
approved works always at hand. Can you not find some
friends who will send out by our teacher on commission
a small book store of school books and religious and lite-
rary works and afford them here for forty or fifty per cent
profits? They will meet with| a ready sale and we can
find some friend here who will sell them for a small per
cent for the benefit of the school and Oregon generally,
without taxing the teacher with this matter farther than
receiving the funds and forwarding them and conducting the
correspondence. More than a thousand dollars' worth of
school books were brought to this place about two months
since^O'i and they are almost entirely sold, so that the coun-
try will be out of school books in a few weeks. In addi-
tion to this we want a small, well selected library, comprising
histories, voyages, travels, literary and scientific works, espe-
cially works on the natural sciences, mental and moral phil-
osophy, political economy, lives, theological standard works,
etc. ; also a set of globes, a small portable telescope and a
case of instruments to facilitate the study of natural phil-
osophy, surveying, trigonometry, etc. We have already asked
you for a bell. VVe repeat that request ; if you can find
some benevolent friends who can send us one of from 200
to 600 pounds weight. The Romans regulate the time of
our city by their bells. Not a Protestant bell in the place.
We need nails, hinges, door la'tches and glass sufficient
for building a house of the size before named and furnish-
ing two school rooms thirty feet square. Sash also can
be bought and shipped much cheaper than they can be
bought here. We think you could render us essential
service, if your Board would take this matter into advise-
ment and, when you find the man, commission him to
travel a few months through some of the most important
cities and larg-e towns in the free states and solicit funds

204 These were brought out by G. H. Atkinson. — G. H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 291

for the above named object. We want no old, useless books
shipped. Send us standard works of the most approved
authors, if you would aid us in giving a sound political,
moral and religious character to Oregon. 23000 miles is too
far to ship trash for a literary institution and, I trust,
theological school for the Baptists in Oregon.

We intend to raise $5000 or more for this work in Ore-
gon the present season. We have an agent appointed for
two months and he will work in the best part of the season.
I this day introduced the subject to a friend of mine. He
assured me that he would give us $500 when we got ready
to circulate our subscription and would also deed us a lot
in Lancaster, a town just springing into existence on
Baker's bay on the north side of the mouth of the Colum-
bia, which he said was worth $500 more. Surely, thought
I, the Lord intends to bless our feeble efforts. We feel
that we are placed by providence now where we cannot
leave the work and we see no other way but that I must
stand in this moral Thermopylae until you can send us aid.
We have reason to expect my health must gradually de-
cline under the labor of teaching, and preaching every Sab-
bath. Yet such is the great destitution in our whole terri-
tory that we feel that it is sinful for me to think of leav-
ing the appropriate duties of the ministry. There are times
in the h,istory of men's lives in which all the energies of
the man are called for. This at present is our condition in
Oregon. This is the time when the demand for preparatory
work is great, very great. There is scarcely a rising town
in Oregon where church property and educational prop-
erty would not be donated to the denomination, if we had
a few more men in the ministry, or, what would be still
better, a few more wise, active laymen to secure such valu-
able property.

We hope the brother you appointed for Oregon last Nov. is
on his way with one or two more fellow laborers. We would
name Fort Vancouver as a commanding point which should
be occupied very soon. Soon immgiration will be pouring in

292 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

upon us from over the mountains and by water. Your Board
must be apprised of this. We have the best evidence that
gold is abundant in the south part of Oregon, and probably
our Oregon men will dig near home this season.

We see that Br. Geo. C. Chandler is about leaving the pres-
idency of Franklin College.^os He is favorably known by us.
AA^ould it not be right to draw him away from Indiana to the
charge of our school? Means must not be wanting to in-
sure us a teacher such as will secure public respect and con-
fidence. My school numbers about 45 this quarter and will
be larger from this time forward. Last quarter it was larger.

We subscribe ourselves, Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER, W. T. MATLOCK,

Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Clerk of the Board.

Done by order of the Trustees of Oregon City College.
Received July 9, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., July 1, 1850.
To Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home IMission Soc. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the first quarter end-
ing June 30, 1850. My field comprises Oregon City and Mil-
waukie, six miles below Oregon City on the east bank of the
Willamette, Clackamas County, and Linn City,^^^ Washing-
ton County (formerly Tualatin) immediately across the Wil-
lamette from Oregon City. I statedly supply the station at
Oregon City half the time and superintend the Sabbath
school and teach the Bible class. Supply the station at Mil-
waukie once each four weeks and supply the station at Linn
City once each Sabbath three-fourths of the time. I have la-
bored thirteen weeks the last quarter, preached twenty-five

205 Rev. George C. Chandler (1807-1881) was licensed by the church in Spring-
field, Vermont, while the author was pastor there. He went to Indiana in 1838 and
was president of Franklin College from 1843 to 1850. He came to Oregon in 1851.
Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1 :73-82.

206 Linn Citv was laid ofif by Robert Moore in 1843. Hist, of Portland, ed. by
H. W. Scott, p. '78.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 293

(25) sermons, delivered one annual address before the Oregon
Tract Society ,207 auxiliary to the A. T. Soc, twelve lectures
to the Sabbath school and Bible class, attended three prayer
meetings and one three-days' meeting in connection with the
communion season of the church in this place on the first
Sab. in May. Visited religiously twenty-three families and
individuals , visited no common schools, addressed my own
on moral and religious subjects twenty-seven times. Bap-
tized none, obtained no signatures to the temperance pledge,
organized no church, aided in no ordination, traveled to and
from my appointments one hundred and fifty miles, received
none by letter or experience, no conversions known, none
preparing for the ministry, except one anti-missionary brother
who is studying and reciting to me. No monthly concert of
prayer (I trust this thing will not long be so).

The people where I labor have done nothing for any of the
missionary societies. Connected with the places where I
preach are three Sabbath schools in which the Baptists partic-
ipate, but only one under Baptist direction. The one at Or-
egon City has four teachers, 20 scholars, and 200 volumes in
the library. I have a Bible class of six scholars.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Oregon City and vicinity.

Our association has just closed an interesting session.^os All
was harmony; all the delegates were deeply impressed with a
sense of the importance of ministerial support and passed
some spirited resolutions on the subject. One small church
sent up a pledge that they would pay one hundred dollars for
one fourth of the time for a year, if they could be supplied
with monthly preaching. Other churches will do as well and
we now have the hope that before the rainy season sets in al-
most every church of nominally missionary Baptists in the

207 This was organized in the autumn of 1848 and did some colporteurage work.
— G. H. Himes.

208 The Association met with the I^a Creole Church, June 28-30. — Minutes of
Willamette Baptist Assn. of Ore.

294 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Territory will have entered into a systematic arrangement of
their own to sustain preaching part of the time. Yet we have
serious drawbacks upon our spiritual prospects by means of
the gold excitement. Some of our leading members and
many of the men, especially our young men, are off in the
mines much of the time, and the mind dwells on the thought
of golden treasures at the expense of all the great moral and
religious subjects which are indispensable to a happy and re-
ligious influence. Our citizens are now mining successfully
in Oregon on the Umpqua and Rogue rivers and gold is
found above the Cascade Mountains on both sides of the Co-
lumbia River^o^ and it is the opinion of those who have
visited that region as prospectors that it will also become a
mining region this fall.

Our school is quite as flourishing as could be expected in
the midst of all these exciting causes. Several of the young
men have gone to the gold regions and one or more will leave
soon. Yet my average number of scholars, large and small,
is about 56 the present quarter. I have had 75 different
scholars since the term commenced, which was on the 27th
of May. The school calls for all my energies during the
week. My oldest daughter is almost constantly employed in
teaching with me. In addition to teaching, for the last eight
weeks I have spent about one hour each day soliciting sub-
scriptions for our school building. We shall build the first
building in the city, on account of obtaining scholars, but
think we shall be able in two or three years (perhaps sooner)
to take the department for young men to the college prem-
ises. We have resolved as a Board to build a house 22 feet
by 42, two stories, so as to accomodate the school with two
good school rooms in one story and appropriate the other
story to a lecture room, 22 by 32, and a room of 10 feet by
22 for a library, philosophical apparatus or reading room, as
the case may demand. We have now subscribed $3332 in
cash and what is called $6500 in Pacific City property. The

209 This gold was found on bars just above the Cascades of the Columbia. — G.
H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 295

town property is not available at present and probably is not
now worth more than twenty cents on the dollar. This sub-
scription I have obtained, except a few hundred dollars. We
have an agent, Eld. Richmond Cheadle, in the field for two
months, so as not to materially interfere with his ministerial
duties. He has just entered upon the work. We hope he will
raise for us $2000 or $3000. We think we shall be able to
raise 500 or 1000 dollars more in this vicinity for this object.
The hand of the Lord seems to be with us in this work. Yet
it is extremely expensive building. Lumber is worth at this
time $55 per thousand feet, delivered, and we have no hope
of its being lower, and mechanics' work is worth from $10 to
$12 per day. We are waiting with great anxiety for our teach-
er and hope his wife may be well qualified to teach a ]:ia'
school. The building for our county female seminary is going
up and teachers will be needed in that and we ought to fur-
furnish our proportion of teachers.^io The building is to be 60
by 30, two stories. You will no doubt do what you can for
us by way of securing a library suited to our present wants
and, if possible, make arrangements so that we can have a
small book store kept here so that at all times we can supply
our own scholars, and all others who may want them, with
the best approved school books and other popular and stand-
ard works. Our whole territory is materially suffering for
want of school books now and the scarcity will be daily in-
creasing. Our teachers, or one of them, might keep the books
and sell them without entirely deranging the school. I say
one of them, for, with present appearances, we cannot expect
to do with less than two teachers from this time forward.
Beside this, we must have teachers, both male and female,
through the Territory. Immigration will soon pour in upon
us from all parts of the world by thousands and we must be
prepared to meet this extraordinary state of things or ignor-

210 The Clackamas County Female Seminary was the successor of a school
opened by Mrs. N. M. Thornton, February 1, 1847. — Oregon Spectator.

It was later enlarged, chiefly through the efforts of Dr. G. H. Atkinson, and
two teachers sent out through Governor Slade of Vermont taught there for a time.
It became a public school some years later. The site is occupied by the present
Barclay School. — G. H. Himes.

296 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ance and vice and luxury will soon work the ruin of this fair
portion of our great nation. We are looking for some half
dozen female teachers sent out by the Board of the National
Popular Educational Society .^^^ We hope that the Society
will not be made a tool to sustain Congregationalism through
all our new states and territories. From the nature of the case
it must be a mighty engine and, unless well guarded, will be
employed to serve the interests of those sects who manage
its affairs. A fair proportion of the teachers sent out to the
West by that Society should be Baptists, or the deficiency
should be met by direct denominational action on our part, or
the molding of the minds of the next generation in the mighty
West is given over into Pedo-'baptist hands, or, what is far
worse, into the hands of the Romans.

We have not yet contracted the printing of the minutes of
our Association, but voted to print 300 copies, together with
an abstract of the minutes of 1848, all of which will about fill
eight octavo pages. Our printer here will charge us $75 for
150 copies. I have prepared them for the press and I do not
know but we shall send to you for printing. We presume the
work can be done for $12 at most in New Y. The Associa-
tion voted unanimously to request the Board of the American
Baptist Home Mission Society to appoint Elder Vincent
Snelling as their missionary to labor one year within the
bounds of the Willamette Baptist Association at a salary of
$200..2i2 Done by order of the Association. Ezra Fisher,
Clerk. Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, Oregon, July 10, 1850.
Dear Br. Hill:

The steamer Carolina is in with the mail at Portland. I do not
know how soon she will go out, but probably in two or three

211 This refers doubtless to the five young women who came out to teach in
1851. They were escorted by Thurston, the Oregon delegate to Congress, who died
on the way out. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:136. They were sent by the National
Board of Education.

212 Rev. Vincent Snelling was appointed Aug. 1, 1850, by the Home Mission
Society, for the term of one year. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1 :44.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 297

days.2^^ I mail this in haste, hoping to be able to write again
before the mail is made up at this place. We had a S. school
celebration in this place on the Fourth. I was called upon to
deliver the address. The whole business of the day passed
off in order and on the whole a new import to the S. S. cause
was given. All our schools have increased since that day —
ours has almost doubled. My school large. Gold on the
Umpqua and Rogue rivers not found sufficiently plentiful to
justify digging while the mines are more rich elsewhere.
Nothing certain as to the quantity of gold up the Columbia.
I shall send an order for clothing and groceries this mail if
possible.

Yours truly,
EZRA FISHER.
Received Sept. 6, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., June 17, 1850.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Herein I send you a bill for goods which I wish you to fill
and forward to me by the first good opportunity you have to
ship direct to Oregon. I hope you will not ship to California,
as it costs as much to ship from California to Oregon as it
does from N. Y. to Oregon. 1 book case and table for writing
made so that the book case can stand on the table, cherry, 1
barrel of best brown sugar, 1 ten pound box of green tea, 30
or 35 yds. of carpeting, not exceeding $1.25 per yd., 1 box
sperm candles, 1 pair heavy calfskin boots, No. lis, 4 pairs of
men's good calfskin shoes, No. 10, 4 do. half No. 8's and half
No. 9's ; 2 pairs thick shoes, 8's and 9's ; 4 pairs ladies' gaiters,
Nos. 4 and 41/2 each; 1 pair do.. No. 3; 4 pairs of ladies'
shoes, calf, 4 and 4I/2 ; 2 do. Morocco, 4 and 4I/2 ; 2 pairs
ladies' shoes, calf, No. 3; 2 pairs do. girls' Nos. 12 and 13;

213 In June, 1850, the steamer Carolina (Captain R. L. Whiting) made her first
run to Portland from San Francisco with mails and passengers. In August she was
withdrawn and put on the run between San Francisco and Panama. Bancroft, Hist,
of Ore. 11:188.

298 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

1 pair girls' gaiters, No. 12; 4 pairs child's shoes, calf, Nos. 8
and 9 ; 1 dress coat ; 1 good summer vest and 2 pairs cloth
pantaloons for me, made to your measure, rather large ; 4
pairs of suspenders for pantaloons; 12 or 15 pairs colored
lamb's-wool half hose for men ; 6 pairs ladies' cotton hose,
colored; 2 do. alpaca; 3 do. lamb's-wool; 4 do. lamb's-wool,
small, for girl about twelve years old ; 4 do. lamb's-wool hose
for girls eight or nine years of age ; four pairs lamb'swool
half hose for children, four or five years old. Let all
the hose and half hose be colored. 1 bolt of good gingham ; 1
bolt of good worsted, or alpaca, fashionable for ladies'
dresses, not very light colored ; 20 yds. of lawn, light colored ;
1 cheap settee, if it will not cost too much for freight; 10
yds. of Irish linen, fine, for bosoms and collars; 1 bolt cot-
ton sheeting, bleached, fine ; 1 do. unbleached, fine ; 2 ladies'
summer bonnets, trimmed ; 2 do. misses' trimmed, age 8 and
12 years; 1 web of linen edging, half-inch wide; 1 do. 11/4-
inch wide, a good article ; 3 pairs brown linen gloves for
gentlemen, rather large ; 1 pair black kid gloves, gentle-
men's, rather large ; 4 do. ladies' gloves ; 2 pairs ladies'
mitts for summer; 4 do. misses' mitts for girls 8 and 12
years old ; 6 large bottomed chairs and one large and one
small rocking chair, strong, boxed, ready to set up here ; 2
pairs of silver set spectacles, suitable for my age; 1 hat for
me, 23^^ inches in circumference on the outside around the
band ; 1 copy of the Comprehensive Commentary, if you
have not forwarded it to me before this ; 1 pair of brass can-
dlesticks; 1 do. iron; 1 pair of snuiTers and snulTer tray; 6
German silver dessert spoons, large ; 2 boxes of vegetable
shaving soap, put up in small white earthen boxes ; 6 fine
ivory combs; 1 ladies' parasol; 6 white linen pocket hand-
kerchiefs ; 4 silk pocket handkerchiefs ; 4 black silk cravats
for gentlemen, or 4 yards of good black silk for cravats ; 8
yds. of figured white lace for ladies' caps ; 1 bolt of good,
fine, firm, red flannel; 20 yds. of drab colored cambric for
facings of dresses ; 1 boy's cap for winter, not fur, for boy
four years old; 12 yds. brown holland, fine article; 15

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 299

yds. brown toweling; half pound good black sewing silk; 1
silk and 2 cotton umbrellas ; 1 dozen spools of white sew-
ing thread; l^^ dozen spools of colored thread; half pound
of black linen sewing thread; 15 yds. good black cassimere
for men's pantaloons; half ream good letter paper; 1 lb.
alum ; 1 good overcoat for me, rather large for yourself ; 1
dress shawl, worsted, a good article; 4 pounds of Thomp-
sonian composition,^!^ and a quart of No. Six. We wish
you to study economy in the purchase of these articles, yet
we are quite sure that cheap sale articles, for instance shoes
and boots, ready-made clothes, etc., are very unprofitable;
they fall to pieces so soon. Sale shoes, for instance, in this
dry climate often last but a few weeks and sometimes but
a few days. The taste of people is fast changing and people
are becoming extravagant in dress and we must be able to
appear in all circles. You need no further explanations. I
received no bill of the goods you sent us last and know noth-
ing how your account stands with me. We want you to fill
this bill and let us know how we stand. We feel that we
cannot get along with anything short of what I have order-
ed, in our present condition, and, if this more than covers
my salary, I must try and raise the funds here some way to
meet it. Our necessary expenses and sacrifices to keep the
institution in operation must keep us exhausted in means un-
less God by His gracious providence opens doors beyond our
present knowledge. But we have commenced the work in
faith and we trust we shall be sustained. We cannot go
back. The work to us appears more and more important
every month. We expect the labor of elevating its character
will be great and the work will advance slowly and with great
expense, but waiting will be disastrous to our reputation as
a denomination of Christians in Oregon. We must have help
in Oregon for this work !

Not a word from you in this mail, either to Br. Johnson

214 This was a famous remedy of that time.

The form.ula seems to have been bayberry 2 lbs., ginger 1 lb., cayenne pepper 2
oz., cloves 2 oz. Horton Howard, An Improved System of Botanic Medicine, Co-
lumbus, 1832, p. 370.

300 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

or myself. Give us at least a male and female teacher be-
fore next spring, and a good, young minister for Astoria and
vicinity ; a man adapted to rise with the people and mold the
mind of the people, both morally and religiously. This seems
to me indispensable, if you will have the Baptist interest
take deep root at the great commercial point in Oregon.^is
Yours with great respect,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Sept. 6, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Sept. 20, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

After a long delay I take my pen to write you a kind
of a general epistle, a part of which must be virtually a re-
capitulation of some of my former letters. By Divine bless-
ing my family and Brother Johnson's are all in tolerable
health. I commenced the fall quarter of our school last
Monday. We have now fifty scholars; probably we shall
have an increase next week. My daughter still assists and
we are yet compelled to have all the school in one room.
The work on our school building progresses as fast as we
could expect, in view of the present state of things in our
country. We have the frame now erected, forty-two feet by
twenty-two ; two stories of ten and eleven feet, and a base-
ment of wood eight feet in the clear. We shall be able in a
few days to pay for the timber and work as far as we have
gone, which will be about $2000. Our financial afifairs will
then stand somewhat as follows: $3000 on subscriptions in
cash and building materials, town property as subscribed
$6700, which we estimate worth about $2000 or $2500.21^ It
would seem by a glance at our subscription list that there

215 The reason why the commercial metropolis of Oregon rose at Portland in-
stead of Astoria is probably because of the long haul from Astoria to the more
tliickly settled parts of Oregon. It was cheaper to bring ocean ships to the head of
navigation, Portland, than to make the longer haul overland to Astoria.

216 The school building completed at so much sacrifice was not used as such
for more than a few years after the period covered by these letters. It was finally
torn down in the seventies. The proceeds of such property of the school as could be
sold were given to McMinnville College. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1 :37.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 301

are no serious embarrassments to our moving forward and
completing so much of the house as will be imperiously
called for the coming winter and painting the outside. But
money is daily becoming more scarce with us and we see
no reason to suppose it will become more plenty. Those who
went to the mines last year and found gold so plentiful have
spent their surplus funds and little improvements in agri-
culture or buildings have been made. Lumber has been in
little demand in California, the markets there having been
filled with eastern lumber. Collections must, therefore, go
on slowly, yet labor and lumber and all kinds of building
materials are higher here than they are even in California.
We, however, hope to be able to enclose the house and fin-
ish two school rooms before the first of January. The super-
intending of the work must necessarily make some drafts
upon both Br. Johnson's and my time. He has the superin-
tending of the building and I have secured about three-
fourths of the subscription. But a failure in this work would
prove ruinous to the Baptist cause in the public estimation,
so far as present appearances indicate. When we have pro-
ceeded so far as to have finished two school rooms, our en-
treaties for a teacher qualified to sustain the reputation of
the first literary school in Oregon will know no denial. To
me it seems that we shall be brought to a Thermopylae. We
have taken strong encouragement from your letters and re-
ports that we shall not be disappointed and we have given
publicity to our sanguine expectations. Our school also is
increasing in numbers and improvements and will very soon
call for the labors of two men in the higher department and
a teacher in the primary department. This would be the
case at this time, if we had a boarding-house connected with
the school where students could board for four or five dol-
lars per week; but at present board is from $10 to $12 per
week, washings not included. We need to build a boarding-
house and find some good eastern family to come and take
charge of it, who would be satisfied with a steady increase
of property and a conviction of being instrumental of great

302 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

good to Oregon and the world. Would to God that such
a man could be found in some of our older churches who
would be able and willing to enter into such an enterprise.
Such a department, well filled, would, no doubt, open the
way for scores every year to commence an education under
the influence of the gospel. We ardently hope you will
spare no ordinary efforts to secure us one teacher at least
who will stand high in moral and literary attainments.

We have another subject nearly allied to this, to which
I wish to call the attention of your Board, because 1 suppose
it can be done better through that channel than any other
now open. It is this : We now have several rising towns
just beginning to spring up at points which will not fail to
become important business places. The proprietors of these
townsites and the citizens will spare no pains, and I had
almost said means, to build a good school house and sustain
a good teacher who will give promise of some permanency.
Now, had we at this time, and from this time forward for
four or five years at least, a few good Baptist teachers of
leading minds, they might enter into a profitable business to
themselves and be exceedingly useful to the cause of Christ
and general education. Such an enterprise would no doubt
lay the foundation for the establishment of Baptist churches
in these towns at a very early period in the history of the
towns. I know now of a place where a preacher who would
consent to take a school might grow up with the people,
and his family, if not large, would be easily sustained from
the first. The people — men of enterprise — are solicitous on
the subject. I could now name several such places on the
Columbia and the Willamette below the head of tide water.
Our Methodist brethren, ever awake to secure vantage
ground, are now negotiating with the proprietors of Port-
land, twelve miles below this place, and will no doubt soon
have there a school in operation belonging to the Methodist
Church and built and sustained, so far as funds are concern-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 303

ed, by the proprietors and citizens of Portland.-^'' We can
find employment at this time for more than a dozen good
teachers in our territory, where they would be well paid and
at the same time opening the way for fourfold that number
more. As it respects our want of ministers, allow me to re-
peat the request with earnestness that your Board make an
appointment for a minister to labor at Astoria, Pacific City
and Clatsop Plains as soon as you can find a man who is
suited to the place. The great commercial city for Oregon
must rise at the mouth of the Columbia. This must be the
key to the whole country. We have a fair proportion of Bap-
tist members and adherents there, and I shall never rest
when I think of this place till it is occupied. A Brother
Newell,2i8 formerly a teacher of music in N. Y. and Au-
burn, is in Pacific City and will probably take his family to
that place. The Baptist interest is rising in Salem, the seat
of the Methodist Institute, and a church will be constituted
in a few weeks at that place.^^^ I have referred your Board
to tliis place on a former occasion. An efficient minister
would soon find his support there, by your aid, in a few
years. This is the best point in all the upper country from
which to reach all points in the Willamette Valley. x\nother
minister is wanted about as much on the west side of the
river five miles above at a new town called Cincinnati.^^o
This place is in the bounds of the La Creole Church, form-
erly called Rick-re-All. Two ministers thus located would
always be near each other to counsel and give aid and at
the same time would each have a wide and rich field on each
side of the river. Another minister is much needed on Tual-
atin Plains. This is the strongest church in the Ter. and
would do their duty as they learned it. The immigrants to

217 This was Portland Academy and Female Seminary. The building was com-
pleted in November, 1851, largely through the efforts of Rev. J. H. Wilbur. Wm.
D. Fenton, Father Wilbur and His Work, Ore. Hist. Sec. Quar. X:21.

218 George P. Newell (1819-1886) was a native of England, but had lived in
America some years before coming to Oregon in 1850. He was Government Sur-
veyor and Inspector of Customs at Pacific City for three years, and was for fifteen
years a deacon in the Oregon City Church. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:72.

219 See note 185.

220 The town was laid out by A. C. R. Shaw. The name is now Eola. — G. H.
Himes.

304 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

California are, many of them, turning their course to the
Willamette Valley and others to the Puget Sound.^^i Im-
migrants are now daily arriving, and every vessel and steam-
er from California is bringing, the disappointed miners; it is
confidently expected that we shall have our population more
than doubled before next April. Your Board will soon see
the necessity of making special effort for Oregon, as well
as California. I often feel almost worn out in the multiplici-
ty of my labors, yet I have never felt more the importance
of working while the lamp burns and throwing all over into
the hands of the Lord than I have the past summer. God
has wonderfully blessed my poor frail body with strength.
We are now out of school books. Will you not induce some
friend of youthful education in Oregon to raise some school
books — Saunder's series, or Angel's, if better; Thompson's
arithmetic ; a few grammars and books of philosophy, his-
tory and astronomy, adapted to academies — and have them
shipped? Could not a society of young men be formed in
your city who will furnish us with books as we may order
them, so that we might have time to sell them and refund
the money, with profit enough to pay them for the labor?
There are now no school books or singing books suited to
teach church music in Oregon. Do think of us.
Respectfully and affectionately yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Nov. 14, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Oct. 1, 1850.
The Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Miss. Soc. : '

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the second quarter
(under the commission bearing date April 1, 1850) ending Oc-
tober 1st, 1850. I statedly supplied the station in this place

221 The first American settlement in the Puget Sound country was in 1845.
By 1850 there were possibly one hundred American citizens in that region; and
trade had just begun in American bottoms. The Hudson Bay_ Company had, of
course, come in some years before the Americans. — Bancroft, Hist, of Washington,
Idaho and Montana, pp. 2-17.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 305

half of my time and the station at Milwaukie one Sabbath a
month. Milwaukie is a rising village on the east bank of the
Willamette near the head of ship navigation and six miles be-
low this place.-^- I preached the remainder of the time in this
place and vicinity. I have labored thirteen weeks in this quar-
ter, preached 21 sermons, delivered no lectures except to my
school and Sabbath school. Baptized none, obtained no signa-
tures to the temperance pledge, have not organized any
church, aided in no ordination. We established a weekly
prayer meeting in this place about five weeks since ; have at-
tended all its meetings. Visited religiously twenty families
and individuals, visited no common schools, traveled to and
from my appointments 40 miles. No persons have been receiv-
ed by letter or by experience and I know of no person who
has experienced a hope in Christ. No young men in our
churches to whom I preach preparing for the ministry. Our
sisters in this place have established a monthly concert of
prayer for the cause of missions. My people have paid me
during the quarter $25 for my salary, but nothing for any
missionary society. I have the superintendence of the Sab-
bath school ill this church and conduct the Bible class ex-
cept when absent. We have four teachers and about 25
children; library, about 150 volumes. My Bible class varies
from four to eight or ten, mostly members of my day school.
My day school embraces about fifty in an average attend-
ance, but I have had 70 different scholars since the present
quarter commenced, which has now been in progress three
weeks. My daughter devotes most of her time as an assist-
tant. Our prospects as a whole are far better for building up
a permanent interest in this place and the whole Territory
than at any period since we have been in Oregon.

Churches are beginning to feel the importance of liberat-
ing the ministry from secular labor and care.

I have secured a deed for four town lots in Portland for a

222 Ocean-going ships stopped coming to Milwaukie about 1852. — G. H. Himes.

306 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Baptist church property.--^ Since the first of January I
have paid by way of estabHshing our school not far from
$300 in securing the site, $50 to the erecting of a building
on land, $50 towards ceiling our meeting house and have $100
more to meet on my subscription for our school building be-
fore next summer and have given no less than $100 of time
in soliciting subscriptions and collecting funds for our school
building. I do not name this to boast of my liberality. But
we have entered upon the work and there seems to be an im-
perious necessity laid on the few friends who have taken
hold of it. The rainy season has commenced and our school
building is not enclosed. We have therefore to fit up our
meeting house for the winter. I wish you to send Mrs. Fisher
the Mothers' Journal and pay for it from my salary. We
are in great want of religious periodicals to circulate among
the churches and our members. Numbers of them would
gladly pay for them, if the proprietors would run the risk
of conveyance of the money. But they seem unwilling to paj
their money and forward it and not receive the papers. We
could obviate this difficulty by ordering you to pay for the
periodicals from our salaries, but our salaries in N. Y. are
worth from 75 to 400 per cent more to us than the money is
here, and, with the great expense of living here and the respon-
sibilities in carrying on the work before us, we cannot make
that sacrifice. We will get the subscribers, collect the mon-
ey and forward it faithfully free of charge for our services,
if the proprietors of the papers will allow us to forward it
at their risk. We will also pay the per cent for transporta-
tion. We feel that after the preaching of the Word, our
brethren cannot be profited so much in any other way by
being led into the duties of the consistent Christian as
through the medium of the Christian press.

Br. Mahlom Brock has subscribed and paid for the Moth-

223 The First Baptist Church of Portland was not organized until 1855. Mat-
toon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:14. Mattoon says that Rev. H. Johnson obtained the
property for the church in 1850, and gives it as a half-block on the corner of Fourth
and Alder Streets. Ibid. p. 140.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 307

ers' Journal and the Home Mission Record 224 ^nd I could
have numbers of other similar subscriptions, if I could in-
sure the papers. If you think best to accede to the proposals
made in this, write me at your earliest convenience. We
wish to know if the proprietors of the New York Recorder
and the Mothers' Journal will do the same. We wish you
to be reminded anew that we are almost discouraged in re-
lation to the hope of your furnishing us a suitable teacher
by the opening of spring. God being my helper, I will try
and sustain the school till you send us a suitable man to
sustain at least a part of the responsibilities of our school.
Then again we are entirely out of school books and there
are none to be had in the country. Cannot you send us
some? We will sell them so that we can refund the money
with ten or 20 per cent, perhaps more.

Then we very much need preachers for the places I men-
tioned to you in the letter I forwarded to you by the last
mail.

I have received no letter from you since the one you sent
accompanying the commission of the first of April last.
All which is respectfully submitted in great haste,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Oregon City.
Received Dec. 9, 1850.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Nov. 12, 1850.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill.
Dear Brother :

Yours under date of Sept 4th, 7th, 9th, together with a
letter from Rev. Geo. C. Chandler of Aug. 19, were received
last mail and I now hasten to answer them in brief so as to
have them leave by the next steamer. By Divine favor my
health and that of my family have been unusually good
through the season, notwithstanding the unusual amount 01

224 "The Home Mission Record" was the official publication of the Baptist
Home Mission Society and was first published in 1849. Bap. Home Missions in N.
Am. 1832-1882, p. 541.

308 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

labor on my hands. We were much rejoiced to learn that
you had succeeded in securing the services of our esteemed
Br. Chandler for Oregon, but regret that he must be so long
detained from the field so muchj needing his labors. We
hoped confidently that I should have been relieved from at
least a part of the responsibilities of the school before another
summer opened upon us. But now, should our school pros-
per as the present signs seem to indicate and we should be
able to complete our building and open a boarding house at
moderate charge, we shall have more scholars than two men
can faithfully teach, unless th^ common school system should
go into effect in our city.^-^ Should this take effect, our
school will be reduced in numbers, but not injured in char-
acter. We must aim at elevating the character of the school
as fast as the demands of the people require it. W^e know
nothing of Mr. Thurston's arrangements with teachers for Or-
egon City.226 We as a Board of Trustees for the Oregon
City College have never thought of corresponding with any
man or body of men to meet our demands but your Board.
And we see no good reason at this time for changing our pol-
icy. We ardently trust that your Board will not let the ap-
pointment of Br. Chandler fail through any rumor you may
hear from Boston or Washington. Should a good Baptist
teacher reach Oregon and find himself disappointed in pros-
pects, we should of course do what we could to introduce
him to useful employment, but we have no thought of filling
this vacancy with any other than the man of your appoint-
ment. The average number of our school this quarter is be-
tween 50 and 60 and we have had more than 80 different
scholars since the quarter commenced. You will see by this
that I have work enough for one man aside from my min-
isterial duties. We are obliged to suspend the work of our
house for a few weeks in consequence of the sickness of Sis-

225 This refers to the efforts made in 1849 to establish a public school system
in Oregon City. Rev. G. H. Atkinson was appointed school commissioner, but the
system of free graded schools was deemed too expensive, and the "female seminary"
was opened instead. Mrs. E. E. Dye, in Joseph Gaston, Portland, Its History and
Builders, Portland, 1911; 1 :66S.

226 See note 211.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 309

ter Johnson, which has necessarily engrossed Br. Johnson's
time and care for the last four weeks, but hope the work will
soon be progressing. But the rainy season will not allow us
to hope to be able to occupy the building till the opening of
another spring. Our lumber is all green and it is becoming
difficult to collect subscriptions fast.

The peculiar features of the Oregon land bill make it un-
safe for us to leave the college claim unoccupied after the
first day of next month.^^^ It therefore devolves upon me
to move onto the claim. The erecting a temporary house
claims some of my time, when it is much needed to forward
the work of our school house, but we trust God will give us
patience and strength to go through this part of the work.
I trust you will make good use of Br. Chandler's time while
in th'e old states in making him acquainted with the most
efficient patrons of education and securing so much of public
favor as will insure to our institution that kind of aid which
must be derived from abroad.^^* I mean books and necessary
apparatus. School books at this time cannot be had in Oregon.
This day four scholars were taken out of my school purely
because no school books could be obtained in the country.
And, unless we get books soon, similar cases will be no un-
common ocurrence with us.

November 16. — Arrangements should be entered into im-
mediately to keep our school supplied with school books, at
least, without fail. I wrote you on this subject in my last.
We should be kept constantly advised of the best systems of
common school books and classical text books. I hope Br.
Chandler will make the necessary arrangements with some
book store or young men's association to meet our wants. I
have written the Cor. Sec. A. B. Publication Society on the
importance of supplying Oregon in part with religious read-

227 The organic act organizing- Oregon Territory had made void all titles ob-
tained under the laws of the provisional government. By the donation land law of
1850 a four-years' residence was required before title could be obtained to the lands
granted under it. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:260-261.

228 Mr. Chandler originally came to Oregon to take charge of the school in
Oregon City. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:76. See also note 205.

310 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ing. Thiat Society has had a missionary agent in Oregon
j^Qj-g229 than a year when money has been plenty and books
scarce and almost everybody asking for religious books and
the agent not a book to sell. And that too, when the agent
could probably do ten times the amount of work for the
country with his buggy of books by visiting and preaching
■and selling truth from house to house that he will unaided by
this valuable auxiliary. I venture the opinion that no part of
the union has opened a more inviting field for this work than
this territory. In ^addition to this, we have not a church of our
order m the country with half a supply of hymn books, and
no note books.^^o j^\\ ^his with a people who are every day be-
coming more and more conscious that their children must be
put on an equality with the rising generation on the Atlantic
coast. Our gold is fast going to build up eastern cities and en-
rich the old states and we shall be less able to patronize this
cause than at this time and there will be greater difficulties in
training the people to a spirit of enlarged benevolence. Could
our colporter be furnished with such works as he might order
it would be a source of great influence to every Baptist min-
ister in Oregon, of incalculable benefit to fortify the public
mind against error and afford a good profit to the Society.
Please urge this matter upon the consideration of that Soc.'s
Board. Immigration is rapidly coming in by land and by wa-
ter.231 jt is now time for Christians to work. I hope your
Board will appoint Br. Snelling as your missionary; it will do
good, more so than a man of the same ability from the States.
For explanation on this subject I refer you to Br. Johnson's
letter. I should write to Br. Chandler, but I know not where
to direct a letter at this time. If he comes with an ox team,
let him have good, substantial oxen of 4, 5 and 6 years of
2igQ232 Horses will do if he gets good ones and comes in

229 This was Rev. Richmond Cheadle. See note 188.

230 The "note books" refer to books giving the music for the hymns.

231 The immigration of 1850 amounted, so Bancroft says, to about eight thou-
sand. Hist, of Ore. 11:174.

This is four times the estimate of Young. See note 305. Young's estimate,
however, probably refers only to those who came overland.

232 Mr. Chandler finally came overland, but some of his goods came by sea.
See letters of Sept. 3, and August 8, 1851.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 311

the first train, which he should do by all means, and start
as early as he can travel, and take along with him oats and
corn to feed his team principally for the first month, before
the grass starts much. Drive moderately at first, have plenty
of teams so that two horses may travel behind the wagon,
and exchange horses each alternate day, and work each pair
of horses two days in successioin. Let provisions be selected
in proportion to the amount of nutrition they contain to the
pound. Let him take dried fruit, dried beef and the fattest
pork he can find without bone, well cured. Let him take
nothing heavy, except clothing, and send his books by water,
put up so that they will not get wet. Let him have good In-
dia rubber cloths to sleep on and under. Tell him to take
special care of hrs team and, if he comes with horses, never
let them go to hunt stray cattle, if he can avoid it and keep
peace with the caravan. Tell him to be sure to cross at or
near Council Bluffs and keep the north side of the Platte all
the way and never touch the old road till he reaches the
Sweet Water and he will save several days' travel and avoid
all the bad water courses. I speak advisedly on this subject.
If he comes with a horse team, he should have mares. He
will need much grace, but if he does not take too much care
and labor on himself the journey will be pleasant and healthy
to himself and family. May God bless him and his and make
them a lasting blessing to Oregon.

Yours affectionately,
EZRA FISHER.
Received Jan. 25, 1851.

Oregon City, Ore., Jan. 17, 1851.
To Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mis. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the quarter ending
January 1st, 1851.

312 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I have labored thirteen weeks in the quarter in the work
of the ministry, so far as I could in connection with my varied
and urgent duties with our school, preached 20 sermons, de-
livered twelve lectures to our Sabbath school and Bible
classes, attended 14 prayer and church meetings, visited
religiously 15 families and other persons, weekly recommend
the cause of Christ to my school, visited no common school,
baptized none, obtained no signatures to the temperance
pledge direct; no church organized, attended no ordination;
traveled to and from my appointments 20 miles; no persons
have been received by letter or experience; no hopeful con-
versions; no young men preparing for the ministry; monthly
concert not observed as yet. My people have paid during
the quarter nothing for any missionary or benevolent society;
I have received ten dollars for my salary; our people have
paid $150 to ceil our meeting house, which is still our school
room. Connected with the churches to which I preach are
two Sabbath schools, one in this place under my charge
having five teachers and 25 scholars, with a library of about
150 volumes; the other is la mixed school, about ten of the
children from Baptist families and one or two of the teachers.

N. B. — I have not reported the number of the members
received to the church in this place as Br. Johnson acts as
moderator, is present at all our church meetings and has
undoubtedly reported them. They shouldn't be reported
twice. I have reported the state of our Sabbath school be-
cause this work rests on me. While I am necessarily em-
ployed as teacher and have the care of the school on my
hands, I must confine my labors to this place and vicinity.
I preach one Sabbath in four at Milwaukie where our pros-
pects are flattering for building up a good church in the
course of the coming year. We contemplate commencing
our labors in Portland, a commercial town of 800 or 1000
souls, twelve miles below this, in a few months. Till Brother
Chandler arrives it seems indispensable that Brother Johnson
and myself make this place our residence. The cause of
temperance is at this time on the ascendant in our city. We

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 313

are holding weekly meetings, with encouraging prospects.
One of my scholars succeeded last week in obtaining about
fifteen names of his fellow students to the pledge. Our
sisters sustain a monthly prayer meeting.

The passage of the Oregon Land bill is operating tempor-
arily against our school by calling some of our supporters
with their families to leave town and settle on their land.
Yet our school this quarter numbers about fifty and is in-
creasing. We think we shall feel the effect of the bill still
more through the coming summer, probably not longer. Our
school building moves forward slowly. Money is constantly
becoming more scarce and we find it hard collecting sub-
scriptions, yet our motto is Onward. As soon as the days
become a little longer and the travelling improved I intend,
God granting, to take the subscription paper mornings and
evenings and try what can be done by way of collecting and
enlarging the subscriptions.

Perhaps we shall have to secure the labors of some person
for two months in this work during the season. We have
contracted for enclosing the house and that work is on the
way and the house will be ready for painting as soon as the
rainy season passes. We shall not be ready to occupy the
house before June, perhaps Aug. or Sept. We trust we shall
not fail of receiving a reinforcement in Br. Chandler, and we
hope others. It is ruinous to abandon this work or even to
suspend operations at this time. We could better do it after
the house is completed. Should we suspend at this time, the
public would say this people attempted to build and were
not able, we should lose public confidence, consequently
pecuniary aid, and our unfinished work would mock us. At
present we 'are assured that we are securing public approba-
tion. Our community is weekly increasing with an energetic,
enterprising people, and the demand for ministerial labor
this year will be triple that of last summer. I am in a strait
betwixt the two, but I see no other way than to hold to the
school till relief comes, preach as much as I can and leave

314 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

all with God. I moved to our College claim the 29th of Nov.

Yours in gospel bonds,

EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Oregon City.
Received March 10, 1851.
On Margin:

N. B. — I have received no letter from you since the one
under date of Sept. 4th and 7th informing me of Br. Chand-
ler's appointment. I have answered them.

Oregon City, Feb. 17, 1851.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Yours under date Oct. 19th, Nov. 11th and Dec. 9th have
all come to hand, together with duplicates of the invoice of
goods and bills of lading of the same on board the bark
Francis and Louisa. We hope they may arrive safe in the
month of April, but I have taken my pen in haste, worn out
with fatigue, to make another application to your Board for
a re-appointment for one year. I will here insert a copy of
the requests from the church in this place and from the
Board of Trustees of the Oregon City College.

At the regular church meeting Feb. 1, 1851, voted to
recommend Elder Ezra Fisher to the Board of the A. B. H.
Mission Socy. for re-appointment to labor in this place and
vicinity for the term of one year.
F. A. COLLARD,233 HEZEKIAH JOHNSON,

Clerk. Mod.

Oregon City, Feb. 6th, 1851.

This is to certify that at a meeting of the Trustees of the
Oregon City College held at the Baptist meeting house in
said city on the day and year first aforesaid it was agreed to
recommend to the Board of the A. B. H. Mission Soc. Elder

233 F. A. Collard came to Oregon in 1847. He later served three terms in the
legislature. Hist, of Willamette Valley, p. 669.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 315

Ezra Fisher as their missionary in Oregon for the term of

one year from the first day of April next.

W. T. MATLOCK,234 E. FISHER,

Secretary. Chairman.

My labors will be one fourth of the time in this city,
probably one fourth of the time at Linn City on the opposite
side of the river from this city, one fourth of the time at
INIilwaukie, at the request of brethren there, and part of the
time at Portland. It seemed to me desirable that Br.
Johnson should continue his labors in this place the coming
year. I therefore moved his call to the pastoral care of our
little church. I shall find all the labor I can possibly per-
form with my school on my hands. We are advancing slowly
with our school house. It is a hard time to collect, and
almost all our men are going to the mines this spring. Very
extravagant reports come from the Klamath mines, pretty
well authenticated, of very rich mines of gold on the waters of
that stream.2-55 Probably two thirds of the men in the terri-
tory will go for gold during the spring, if we receive no coun-
ter reports. At present the whole community is in a high
state of excitement. We think things will become settled
within a few months and hope the farming community will
return permanently to their farms. We shall do all we can,
in connection with all our other cares, this spring and the
ensuing summer to carry the work (of building) forward and
hope to have two rooms ready for occupancy before the ar-
rival of Brs. Chandler and Read. Our school has already
suffered the loss of several of the young men from the gold
excitement, and more will go to the mines. Yet they will
probably return in the fall, at least a part of them. Labor
will be extravagantly high the coming season and lumber
will be scarce. We dare not oppose the providences of God

234 W. T. Matlock was several times a member of the territorial legislature.
He was a delegate to the first Republican state convention, and was at one time re-
ceiver of the U. S. Land Office. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:72, 143, 158, 296, 418,
458.

235 Gold was first found in the tributaries of the Klamath in the spring of
1850. In July discoveries were made on the main Klamath. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore.
11:185.

316 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

in this new excitement and we think we can better calculate
on results than when the mines were first discov-
ered in California. Our men will not leave our Territory.
Immigration is constantly pouring in upon us. The mining is
to be done in our own territory and in six or eight months
our valley will be thronged with immortal beings. Gold will
either be plentiful or labor will be comparatively cheap. The
world's wickedness will be thrown upon us. How much
we need strong faith and warm hearts to meet and con-
quer the enemy by love !

Our school numbers about fifty this term. When our re-
inforcement arrives we hope to make such a disposition of
the labor as will most glorify God. Brother Johnson and
myself have concluded to order the Home Mission Record
as fast as we obtain subscribers and pay for the paper out
of our salary at N. Y. till it amounts to five dollars each,
and that will be as much as will meet the wants of our
brethren in Oregon the present season probably. We would
gladly do ten fold that amount, if we were able, but our
family expenses are great and we are economizing to the
extent of our abilities to meet the claims of our schools and
secure public confidence. I trust God will carry us through
and bless the efforts.

I herein send you the names of Mahlom Brock, Oregon
City Post Office, and J. D. Garrett and Hector Campbell,
Milwaukie Post Office, as subscribers for the Home Mis-
sion Record. Please forward them to said offices.

Give my sincere thanks to Dr. Williamsons foj. consti-
tuting me a life member of your Society. I am altogether
unworthy the honor of that distinguished servant of Christ.
The Lord multiply his means and enlarge his liberality to
this great Christian enterprise. My personal thanks to Dr.

236 This was probably Rev. William R. Williams, at that time pastor of the
Amity Street Baptist Church of New York City. Am. Encyc. XVI :641.

A person could be made a life member of the Home Mission Society by the
payment of $30.00. — Bap. Home Missions in N. Am. 1832-1882, p. 350.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 317

Cone237 for the donation to our College library. When the
books arrive, the Board will take action on the subject.

Yours with esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Received April 21, 1851.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Apr. 7th, 1851.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mis. Soc. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the fourth quarter
of the year ending April 1, 1851. I have labored (13) thir-
teen weeks in the quarter; preached eighteen (18) sermons;
delivered six (6) lectures on moral and benevolent sub-
jects; attended ten (10) prayer and other religious meet-
ings, visited religiously twelve (12) families and individuals,
baptized none, obtained no signatures to the temperance
pledge, have not assisted in the organization of any church
or the ordination of any minister; have traveled (50) fifty
miles to and from my appointments, received none by letter,
none by experience ; we know of none hopefully converted,
no young men preparing for the ministry, monthly concert
not observed.

The people to whom I preach have paid nothing during
the quarter for any of the missionary societies or Bible so-
ciety ; nothing toward my salary ; the church has done noth-
ing by way of building meeting house. Sabbath school is in
operation in this place with 4 teachers and about 16 scholars
and about 150 volumes in the library. The Bible class is
connected with the school and numbers but four.

My school occupies most of my time through the week.
We read the Scriptures twice each day and I frequently ac-
company this exercise with a few remarks and, as often as I
judge it is useful, address the school on the great subject of

237 This was Rev. Spencer Houghton Cone, DD., (1785-1855). He was a lead-
ing member of the Baptist denomination at this time, and pastor of the First Bap-
tist Church of New York City. — Am Encyc. V, 220.

318 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

their relations and obligations to God, to man and to them-
selves. I open and close the school each day by prayer. I
preach at two other points besides this place, one on the op-
posite side of the river^^s and the other at Milwaukie, six
miles below this place. I contemplate commencing monthly
preaching at Portland in a few weeks, if my health w^ill al-
low me to perform the labor.^-'^ Many of the men of the
territory are in the mines. Brother Snelling is among the
number, so that we have but little preaching in the country.
This spring I hardly dare contemplate our condition of feeble
churches left without pastors while I am confined within the
walls of a school house. I am sometimes half resolved to
leave the school in the bands of such a teacher as we can se-
cure, and travel through the valley, visit, preach and collect
funds for the school building. But we fear the consequences
of a change in teachers before our expected teachers arrive.
We commenced our spring quarter today with 40 scholars,
notwithstanding the gold excitement and the removal for a
a time of nearly all the remnant of our large boys for farm-
ing purposes during the summer. The number will increase
for the ensuing two weeks. Our money has been drained off
to build up eastern cities and farming is greatly neglected
for the mines. Consequently it is difficult to collect for car-
rying forward our building and labor is extravagantly high.
That work must progress slowly this summer. We hope to
make a special effort in the fall for this work ; I fear not be-
fore, unless I leave the school next quarter. We more need
an efficient preacher as colporter for the A. B. Publication
Soc, who would do some work for the Bible Society, than
an agent for the Bible Society to the neglect of the Publica-
tion Society. But if the Publication Society do not do this
work through their agent, we will be glad to see your pro-
posed enterprise take effect. Should the Bible Soc. send us
an agent, or Bibles, they will do well to send a large pro-

238 This was Linn City.

239 The author apparently soon began holding occasional services in Portland
in the Congregational meeting-house. They were continued until October, 1854,
when a Baptist minister settled in Portland.— Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 11:14.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 319

portion of large Bibles suitable for family Bibles. There has
been an inquiry for them for a long time, when small Bibles
cannot be sold for cost. Every evangelical society has Bibles
in the country and the people have generally obtained Bibles
and Testaments gratuitously, or at very low price, till the
country has become tolerably supplied. But our coming pop-
ulation will create a large demand for more next year.

We are truly gratified to learn that interests in Oregon
are beginning to receive a share in the sympathies of our
trans-mountain brethren. My personal thanks to Dr. Pike for
the part of the philosophical apparatus which he so gener-
ously donated for the institution. In due time, on the recep-
tion of the gift, he will receive an expression from the Bo'ard.

I received the boxes you shipped on board the Grecian. I
have received the bill of lading for the goods you shipped me
on board the bark Francis and Louisa ; also the bills of lad-
ing of the goods shipped for Br. Chandler on board the Gold-
en Age.

Affectionately yours,
EZRA FISHER,
Received June 3, 1851.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., July 1, 1851.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home INIission Soc. :

Herein I send my report of labor under the appointment of
the Home Mission Society for the first quarter ending July 1,
1851. My field comprises the church at Oregon City, the
community at Linn City, Milwaukie and vicinity and Port-
land. At the three last named places we have as yet no
church.

I have labored 13 weeks in the quarter, preached 21 ser-
mons, delivered no lectures on moral and benevolent subjects,
attended three church meetings and two prayer meetings, vis-
ited religiously twenty families and individuals, no common
schools, baptized none, obtained no signatures to the temper-

320 ' CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ance pledge, have assisted at the organization of no church,
no ordination, have traveled to and from my appointments
126 miles, received none by letter, none by experience and
none to my knowledge has been hopefully converted. No
young men in the church preparing for the ministry. Monthly
concert of prayer is not observed. My people have paid during
the quarter for the Home Mission Society nothing and noth-
ing for any other benevolent society. Church has done noth-
ing by way of building meeting houses. I have received from
individuals for my support as a minister $10.00. Connected
with the congregations to which I preach are two Sabbath
schools, one with the church in this place, having three teach-
ers, 18 scholars and about 150 volumes; the other at Mil-
waukie, a promiscuous school, with one Baptist teacher and
seven scholars of Baptist family. There is also a Bible class
with five pupils connected with the Sabbath school in Oregon
City which I teach one fourth of the time. Our school is
about as numerous as at any preceding period. My confine-
ment in school and the necessary labor and care prevent my
laboring so much in the ministry direct as I should otherwise
do, yet I trust we are laying the foundation for more efficient
work hereafter. Our school building is now being enclosed
and we hope to have two rooms finished by the time of the
arrival of Brs. Chandler and Read. I have most of the labor
of raising subscriptions for the work. More than one third
of the old subscriptions cannot be made available at present,
mostly by means of a change in the moneyed matters of the
subscribers. We have now most of the lumber engaged and
paid for to carry the work on as far as above specified and as
yet have no debts hanging over us ; but I fear my confine-
ment in the school and Br. Johnson's necessary callings will
leave the building one or two thousand dollars in debt, when
fit for use,which must be met by an appeal to the public, as
soon as Br. Chandler arrives, which our brethren tell me I
will have to do.

You see, dear brother, that I have upon me the labor of
two men now and when it will be less is known only by Him

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 321

whom we serve. I have just returned from our association
held in Tualatin Plains. Our business was transacted with
great unanimity. Resolutions were passed in favor of the
cause of home missions, American and Foreign Bible Society,
American Bap. Pub. Soc, American Tract Society, the Sunday
school cause and religious periodicals. Our congregations were
unusually large and solemn. We must leave the results with
God, but confidently hope the cause which we represent in
Oregon is advancing. Three churches were added to our asso-
ciation during the anniversary. I am appointed to correspond
with you on the subject of an exploring agent and the appoint-
ment of a missionary for Salem, which I must defer till after
the next mail. I received my commission, under date of May
2d, and accompanying letter. I will attend to the deficiency on
the part of the church and forward the concurrent certificates
in my next. When Br. Chandler arrives, we must have an en-
tire change in our fields of labor and we have a committee
appointed by our association to call a convention of the breth-
ren to consult on the best method of promoting the cause of
Christianity and education in Oregon, immediately on the
arrival of Br. Chandler. Would it not be well for your Board
to authorize your missionaries in this territory to make such
changes at that time as the said convention may deem neces-
sary for the furtherance of the cause of Christ? Please write
me immediately on this subject.

I will here insert the following names as subscribers for the
Home Mission Record : Rev. Richmond Cheadle, Santiam
Post Office, Elmer Keys, do, Edward T. Lenox, Hillsboro P.
O., James S. Holman, Euckiamute.

Yours in gospel fellowship,
EZRA FISHER,
Missionary at Oregon City and vicinity.
N. B. — I am waiting with prayerful solicitude for the time
to arrive when I may do my duty as a servant of God and
leave the walls of the school and meet the suffering wants
of some of the feeble, famishing churches in the valley. Br.

322 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Newell 240 ^yas here today, broken in spirit at the loss of his
dear wife and child. Br. Coe has spent one night with us ; am
much pleased with him. Dea. Failing ^^i and sons spent two
nights with us ; were well. Will stop at present at Portland.
I hope we shall be able during the present season to consti-
tute a church at Portland.

Yours,
Received Aug. 22, 1851. E.F.

Aug. 8, 1851.
I received all the goods shipped on board the bark Ellen
and Louisa which the bill of lading calls for. I learn too
that the Golden Age is at Portland and I have made arrange-
ments to have Br. Chandler's goods stored free of charge till
he arrives. I suppose we have now for the first time a tol-
erable supply of books of the A. Bap. Publication Soc's pub-
lications and I trust Elder Cheadle, their Colporter, will ex-
ert a good influence with these works in his hands. The im-
migration from California will probably be large the coming
winter and even for a longer time. I am informed that the
Spanish titles to the land are generally good and the result
will be many American citizens who would like lands in
California will avail themselves of the benefits of the Oregon
land bill. I think Pacific City will not greatly suffer for the
want of 'an efficient minister before another summer. Br.
Newell has been seriously afflicted by the loss of his wife
and child on the passage and he is as yet somewhat unsettled,
yet I think we must soon have a good man located at that
place or Astoria or Clatsop Plains to meet the wants tempo-
rarily of all that region. He should be a prudent, business-
like, devoted minister who loves Zion and can resist worldly
temptations. From this time forward changes must be great
on the Pacific coast and every improvement must go forward
with a rapidity unequaled in any new portion of our coun-

240 See note 218.

241 Josiah Failing (1806-1877) came to Oregon in 1851 and was prominent in
business, church and politics. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:69. The two sons were
John W. and Henry.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 323

try . Our churches must be supplied with a devoted, thor-
ough ministry and that ministry must and will, with a love
approaching to a passion for the work, train the churches
right. I feel a strong assurance on this subject.

I am not tired of doing my duty, but I think I shall appre-
ciate in some measure the responsibilities of the ministry
more than I have done in past years, should the Lord gra-
ciously spare my life till I can give over this school into other
hands. When I look over the moral waste of the Willamette
Valley and hear the appeals as often as I see the brethren,
"When will you come and preach to us?" it is almost more
than I can endure. The interests of our school must not be
neglected, but, unless we are visited with the outpourings
of the spirit from on high, we are a ruined people in Oregon.
Pray for us.

Yours.

E. FISHER.
Received Oct. 6, 1851.

Oregon City, Sept. 3d, 1851.
Rev. Benj. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

I received by the last mail two copies of the annual report
of the A. B. H. M. Soc. for 1851, and Br. Johnson received
a letter from you. Religious matters in the Territory remain
much as they were when I last wrote. Our school numbers
about forty scholars since we dismissed the female depart-
ment and will be considerably enlarged the next two quarters,
should our teachers prove to be popular with this people, as
we trust they will. I have but three weeks after the
present one in this quarter. Then I hope to be able under
God to visit the churches through the valley and preach to
them Saturdays and Sabbaths and, at the same time, raise
some funds for our building, which lies heavy on our hands
and heavier on my heart. The work has moved on slowly
this summer, it being only enclosed, without doors or win-

324 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

dows. We, however, have part of the glass, and the oil and
lead for painting. The house is between three and four hun-
dred dollars in debt. We have about $1000 uncollected on
our subscription paper and we can probably rely on about
$200 this fall from that source. We have flooring enough on
hand to lay the floor for two rooms and a few hundred feet of
ceiling and may probably get some more lumber on the old
subscription and more subscribed.

We had the pleasure of welcoming Br. Chandler to this
place yesterday, but his family were left sixteen miles back in
the first settlements this side of the Cascade Mountains. He
was in health and in good spirits, as were his family and Br.
Read,2^2 all of whom will be in town this week. We trust
that from this time we shall be able to do more for our feeble
churches than formerly and hope we may enjoy an enlarged
measure of the spirit of our Divine Master. We shall call
the convention, of which I made mention in my last, about
the time of the close of my quarter. I rejoice to find that
you have anticipated the same thing in your letter to Br.
Johnson. I have discontinued my appointments at Linn City
on account of the small number of families in that place this
summer, and commenced preaching once a month at Cane-
ma,^'^^ a village springing up at the head of the falls on this
side of the Willamette, one mile above this place. We may con-
tinue a monthly appointment there after the meeting of the
convention, but we must not longer neglect the churches in the
valley above. I should have sent you the concurrent certificate
of the church244 by the last mail but for the fact that our
church clerk lives three miles from this place on the other side
of the Willamette^'^s and I have had no opportunity of seeing

242 This was Rev. J. S. Read. He had just graduated from Franklin College.
He taught in the Oregon City School for one school year and then went to South-
ern Oregon. He returned to Indiana in 1854. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:13.

243 Canemah began in the later forties. It took its name either from an In-
dian chief, or from a word meaning a canoe landing; probably the former. — G. H.
Himes.

244 These certificates were required by the Home Mission Society to be sent
in by churches which were asking for the service of its missionaries.

245 The clerk of the Oregon City Church at this time was F. A. Collard, who
was then living on his land claim just south of what is now Oswego. — Records of
First Baptist Church of Ore. City (MS. and records in Clackamas County Court
House).

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 325

him for four weeks. At the first meeting I had with the breth-
ren in Portland they appointed a committee to sign a similar
certificate, but on my last visit to that place the two most ef-
ficient brethren were gone to San Francisco on business, and
thus the matter is delayed. I will now record the vote of the
church on the subject of application for my appointment and,
should I not see our clerk before the next mail leaves, I shall
hand the letter to Br. Johnson for signature.

Yours,

E. FISHER.

Voted to recommend Elder Ezra Fisher to the favorable con-
sideration of the Home Missionary Society for re-appointment
for the term of one year. Also voted to invite Elder Ezra
Fisher to supply the church one fourth of the time. Done at
the church meeting on the first Saturday in Feb., 1851.

The 1st Bap. Church at Oregon City concur in all the
terms of the application made by Elder Fisher in a letter ad-
dressed to the Corresponding Secretary in Feb. last.

September 6th, 1851.

W. T. MATLOCK,

Clerk pro tem.

N. B. We have this day had Brs. Chandler and Read in
attendance and agreed to call the convention of which I
made mention in my last on Friday the 17th instant.

Yours,
Received Nov. 3, 1851. E. F.

Oct. 1st, 1851.
To Rev. B. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. B-ap. Home Mission Soc. :
Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the second quarter
ending Oct. 1, 1851.

Up to this time my field has comprised Oregon City, Port-
land, Milwaukie and an out-station at Canema, a rising vil-
lage half a mile above Oregon City, at the head of the Wil-

326 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

lamette Falls, which I statedly supply. I have labored 13
weeks in the quarter, preached 19 sermons, delivered three
lectures to the Sabbath school in this place, attended three
ministers' prayer meetings in this place (which are weekly),
visited religiously 25 families and individuals, visited no com-
mon schools, but addressed my own weekly, baptized none,
no signatures to the temperance pledge, organized no church,
no ordination, traveled to and from my appointments 130
miles, none received by letter, none by experience, have had
no hopeful conversions, no young men preparing for the min-
istry. The monthly concert of prayer is not observed at any
of my stations. My people have paid nothing during the
quarter for any missionary or benevolent society. I have re-
ceived nothing for my salary ; no meeting houses being
erected. Connected with the church in Oregon City is a Sab-
bath school of 18 scholars and three teachers and about 150
volumes in the library. There is also a Bible class with 3
pupils.

EZRA FISHER,

Missionary.

N. B. — At the meeting of the convention held at this place
on the 19th and 20th of Sept. last you will see, by referring
to the minutes which will probably leave in the next mail,
that the Trustees of the Oregon City College appointed me
temporarily as agent for that school to collect funds to carry
on the building now up and enclosed, but between four and
five hundred dollars in debt. It was thought to be the best
that could be done. It was hoped that this work might be
performed without materially diverting me from my minis-
terial labors. I shall be expected to meet my regular appoint-
ments twice each month at Portland, or supply them with a
substitute. You will also see a request from this conven-
tion that your Board appoint me as a corresponding evan-
gelist for Oregon (I am not certain that I have the right
name as I have not the minutes of that convention and quote
from memory). The name of exploring agent was urgently
objected to by one and only one of the members of the con-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 327

vention, but he is a man of influence and with his objections
against eastern influence. It is understood, however, that
this evangelist is to perform the duties of an exploring agent.
It seems necessary that the Willamette and Umpqua valleys^^^
be explored or visited by a faithful missionary who will be
able to make a fair representation of the wants of the de-
nomination, both to your Board and to the Willamette Asso-
ciation. The people at the mouth of the Columbia should
also be visited, and perhaps the settlement at Puget Sound^^''
during the next season. Little, if anything, can be expected
the present year in aid for the support of such an agent above
what I shall receive from Portland, unless I should supply
some destitute church a stated portion of the time. Yet the
scattered members would be encouraged to early organizations
and be led to appreciate the great utility of the missionary
organization. Should the winter rains hold off, I hope to visit
several destitute churches in the upper part of the valley.
Baptist sentiments seem to be well received, and it is very ob-
vious that our efforts in the cause of education seem to in-
spire public confidence in the efficiency of the denomination.
I will give one instance : A Br. Hill^^s from Missouri came
to Albany, a county seat on the Willamette about 70 miles
above this place, and commenced teaching and preaching
some time last winter. His labors resulted in organizing a
small church ; the proprietors of the lower part of the to xn
have built a school house and at our late convention requested
us to send them a teacher and a preacher, with the assurance
that the people would help to support him as a minister and
donate one-fourth of the lots of their town for church pur-
poses. It is said that they have from forty to sixty. acres laid

246 The Hudson Bay Company had established a post in the Umpqua Valley
as early as 1832. — Bancroft, Hist, of N. W. Coast, 11:521. The valley was first
carefully explored and extensively settled in 1850, largely through the efforts of the
"Umpqua Town-Site and Colonization Land Company," which was largely financed
from California.— Bancroft, Hist of Ore. 11:175-183.

247 See note 390. There were a number of Americans of the immigration of
1851 who settled on Puget Sound. — Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Idaho and Montana,
p. 21.

248 This was Rev. Reuben Coleman Hill, M. D., (1808-1890). He was born
in Kentucky and moved to Missouri in 1846, to California in 1850, and to Oregon
in 1851. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 11:82.

328 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

out in town lots. We have similar proposals for taking
schools under our care upon town sites upon the banks of the
Willamette. If we had a few young men of prudence and en-
ergy, with a sacrificing spirit, to throw into our county seats
in the valley above us. no doubt, with the blessings of the
Great Teacher, an incalculable amount of good might be ac-
complished.

The overland immigration is large and mostly in the valley
and in the Cascade Mountains and will be in in eight or ten
days.24^ Its number is estimated at from four to five thou-
sand souls. We are constantly receiving accessions by w^a-
ter, so that it is thought that our white population by the
first of March will be at least 30,000.

Brs. Chandler and Read will enter upon their duties as
teachers week after next. We expect they will supply this
church and one or two out stations in the vicinity. Money
is scarce and crops of wheat and vegetables abundant. I have
not yet learned whether my appointment as missionary is con-
firmed, but I have been acting with that expectation and shall
venture to order you to put me up some family clothing and
books, in a few days. I am receiving the Christian Chronicle
regularly and, if it is charged to me, I wish you to arrange
the matter with the editors and charge that amount to me.

We fear that Br. Failing will become discouraged in bus-
iness and leave for N. Y., but still hope God will otherwise
direct. He is much needed in Oregon.

Yours in gospel fellowship,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Nov. 19, 1851.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Jan. 30, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Yours, bearing date Nov. 29 and mail mark Dec. 9th, con-

249 See note 154.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 329

taining a commission for me to act as exploring agent for Or-
egon for the term of three months, was received by the last
mail. I now hasten to answer the same and make a few gen-
eral statements of facts as nearly as I can explain matters
now in Oregon. Since the arrival of Brs. Chandler and Read
I have visited YamHill county and church ; spent ten days in
that county, principally to look over their spiritual wants in
the absence of Elder SnelHng,25o the former pastor of Yam-
Hill church. Found the members scattered over half a large
county and almost disheartened, but they seemed cheered by
the visit and manifested a desire to enjoy the preached word.
In this visit, as in all my public labors the past fall and win-
ter, I have endeavored to make my agency for the school sub-
serve the interests of the churches rather than make it the
all engrossing subject. I have preached half my Sabbaths at
Portland and Milwaukie ; in the morning at the latter place,
and in the evening at the former. The remaining part of my
time I have performed labors in the south and southeast part
of Marion County, on the east side of the Willamette River
from 20 to 40 miles south from Oregon City and one of the
most promising agricultural parts of the Willamette Valley,
in which are located two feeble churches,^^! one of which
had lost its visibility for the want of the occasional preaching
of the word. All the former members of the church have
changed their location and in so doing have thrown them-
selves into a more commanding position in the same vicin-
ity. Their position is such that at no distant day two small
business towns must rise up in their vicinity, one on the Wil-
lamette about 15 miles below Salem, the other on Pudding-
River, eight miles east of the landing on the Willamette.

In looking over the field which God in his providence has
seen fit to assign us, we are constrained to say, "Ours is a
goodly heritage," and we feel no inclination to abandon it

250 Snelling was then in California.

251 The two churches were the one at French Prairie, organized in 1850, near
or in the present town of Gervais ; and the Shiloh Church, organized in 1850, at the
present town of Turner. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. I :9.

It was probably the French Prairie Church which was so weak.

330 CORRESPONDE^XE OF THE

for others, yet we think your Board do not fully appreciate
all the embarassments under which we, as missionaries and
churches, labor. Our field is as truly a missionary field as
any portion of the great field which was contemplated in the
first organization of the A. B. H. M. Soc. Imagine for a mo-
ment 200 or 300 American citizens who have been gathering
upon the waters of Puget Sound252 (the future naval depot
for Oregon) for the last seven years, and for 'all this time
have never been visited by a Protestant minister. Now sup-
pose you were to meet one of these citizens and hear him re-
late to you the fact that they trade with foreigners and go
to the Roman church^^s for Sabbath instruction and then
ask, "Why can you not come over and preach to us, for I
verily think ours is missionary ground?" What would be
the feelings of your heart when you are compelled to turn
them away with an indefinite reply? This is but one case.
The people settled upon the banks of the Columbia River
(the great thoroughfare of trade for the valley of Willam-
ette and the Northern gold mines of Rogue River) from Van-
couver to Astoria, a distance of 90 miles,^^^ have never had
preaching of any order save in a very few instances. But a
few days since an acquaintance of mine residing near a rising
town which, at no very distant period, will not fail to be a
place of some importance, asked me if I could not sometime
come and preach to them, saying he was a wicked man, but
he had children and had raised them to respect the gospel
and they and his neighbors wanted to hear preaching and he
would make his house a comfortable home for any respectable
minister who would come and preach one sermon and give
him ten dollars for his part.

Then, with me, take a bird's eye view of the Willamette,
whose settlements spread over a territory 180 miles in length
and from 20 to sixty miles in width, in almost every settle-

252 See note 247. The trade on the Sound increased largely in 1852-3, and
several small towns were springing up. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:250.

253 This church was near Olympia at a place now called Priest's Point Park. —
G. H. Himes.

254 The towns of St. Helens, Xlilton, Westport, and Rainier, were all spring-
ing up about this time. — Bancroft, Hist, of Oregon. 11:251, 252.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 331

ment of which are found one or more members of our order
surrounded with men of all religious sects and of no relig-
ious creed, and exposed to all the disorganizing influences
peculiar to a country where preaching is but occasional and
Sabbath day visiting and hunting of loose cattle and wild
game lare common, and at the same time large portions of
the men are going to and coming from the mines. Can this
be regarded as any other than a missionary field in the most
unqualified sense of the term? Then turn your attention to
the Umpqua Valley, in which are now two organized coun-
ties,^^^ and it is said that it is now as thickly peopled as the
Willamete, with no evangelical minister to break the bread
of life,^^^ where character is formed with unexampled rapid-
ity, and no means are wanting to draw the youth into the
most abandoned habits which the temptations of gold can in-
spire in the absence of the moral influence of the Bible (for
men will soon neglect their Bibles if the gospel is not preach-
ed), and here we must say is a missionary field. Immediately
south of the Umpqua River, gold diggings begin and that
portion of the mines between this and the Chasty (Shasta)-^''
Mountains, a distance of 140 to 150 miles from north to
south, is included in the Oregon field. Here thousands of
our countrymen are constantly engaged in digging gold,
with no one to minister to them the excellencies of that gos-
pel which is incomparably more valuable than gold. With
a few exceptions, the entire population of the Umpqua and
and the gold regions of Oregon have congregated on onr
southern border within the term of the last eighteen months.
Is not Oregon then a missionary field? We desire your
Board to take another view of our condition. By referring to
the minutes of our association you will see that we report

255 Douglas and Umpqua Counties, the former of which had just been or-
ganized, and Jackson County, which was also organized in January, 1852, comprised
the Rogue River Valley.— Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:710, 712.

256 This statement is probably correct.

257 Shasta, a corruption of the French "chaste," was first applied to the moun-
tain by early American travelers. — Bancroft, Hist, of Calif. VII :440.

332 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

eleven small churches.^ss Two others are constituted and
probably some four or five more will spring into existence
the coming summer. In all these churches we number about
160 members. Forty or fifty more may include all the mem-
bers of the territory ; and these members oome to us from al-
most every state in the union, and some from Australia. It
would be almost a miracle, in bringing together such a com-
munity, if all would at once co-operate, in ways and means to
carry out the great objects of the gospel, with all the harmony
of the spheres. Yet be it said to the praise of these brethren
and to the honor of the gospel of Christ that, according
to the means of grace they enjoy, they will not suffer in com-
parison with most of the country churches in the States, both
as it regards the order of the members or the willingness to
support the gospel. Now when we remember that nine years
ago the first of these brethren arrived in Oregon and from
that time to the present they arrived in this valley poor,
many without bed or bedding, save a few blankets, with
their teams either lost in the mountains or reduced to skel-
etons, and every necessary of life to provide anew, with
clothing, groceries, cooking and farming utensils at a price
fourfold that of the cost in the States, that in churches of
from six to twenty-seven members no two families lived
nearer than a mile of each other, and these interspersed with
every variety of religionist found in the States, till it is not
common for more than two Baptist churches to be found in
a large county, is it reasonable to expect that everything will
be done with the promptness and precision with which busi-
ness is transacted in well organized churches in the midst
of compact cities?

And then your missionaries, unlike our missionaries in the
foreign fields, have been compelled to divide their energies
between the interests of the churches and the recurring ur-

258 The minutes for June, 1851, show only nine churches: the West Union,
Yamhill, Rickreal, Oregon City, Santiam, Lebanon, Shiloh, Molalla, and Clatsop
Churches. The French Prairie and Marysville Churches were organized, but not
admitted. — Minutes of Willamette Baptist Association for 1851. Mattoon, Bap. An.
of Ore. 1:1-17. The author must have been mistaken, for the Association of 1852
did not meet until the June after this letter was written.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 333

gent wants of rising- families. During the last three years
the extravagant prices of all the articles of family consump-
tion, together with the rage for gold which pervaded almost
the entire community, precluded all reasonable hope that the
Missionary Society and the scattered churches would give
the families of your missionaries a bare sustenance. With
this state of things we are fully convinced that your Board
have been disposed to exercise a laudable (I might perhaps
say unwarrantable) forbearance. But this policy has been
fruitful in evil conseq'uences. Our necessities have diverted
our time and care to a lamentable extent from our appropri-
ate work. While we have been fast wearing out our lives in
hard labor directed to the best of our wisdom, we feel a la-
mentable conviction that the feeble cause of Christ has been
neglected and our Christian graces have been gradually de-
clining. In the midst of these embarassing circumstances
we have labored and under the blessing of God we have
brought a school into existence. In the assumption of the
necessary responsibilities, Brother Johnson has involved
himself in pecuniary liabilities from which it is doubtful
whether he will ever be able to recover. The school fur-
nished me a living while at the same time it consumed all my
available means and confines me for years to the place in or-
der to secure a permanent site for a literary institution for
the denomination in Oregon. But times and prospects have
greatly changed in a few months. The prices of most of the
ordinary articles of family consumption are materially re-
duced. Still the labor of man and beast is high. Butter is
still 75 cents a pound, so we use none of that article ; fresh
beef from 8 to 12 cents per pound, pork from 14 to 18 and
eggs 75 cents per dozen. The prospect of usefulness is also
materially increased, especially in the country churches. Fee-
ble and scattered as our churches are, I think they will pay
from $50 to $150 this year for preaching, if they can secure
it one Sabbath each month. These churches are all located in
the midst of most important agricultural districts in the Wil-
lamette Valley, some of them in the immediate vicinity of

334 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

county seats, and must not be neglected. The population
in all our towns is greatly reduced by means of that pecu-
liar feature in the land bill which requires four years' actual
residence on a claim to obtain a patent from government.
Numbers of the remaining citizens are adventurers who have
left their families in the States and intend to return to their
families as soon as they shall have sheared the golden fleece.
Others are uncertain whether their business will justify the
removal of their families to our shores. These and other cir-
cumstances too numerous to be named render the success-
ful occupancy of our towns more than doubly difficult that of
the towns in the Western states, technically so called. But
with all these difficulties to encounter, Pedo-baptist churches,
both Roman and Protestant, are sustaining their ministers in
the most important of these towns by very little aid from
the members in the place. Should we entirely neglect these
towns, they will soon become very difficult of access to Bap-
tists. Your missionaries are of opinion that a missionary
should be stationed at Portland and principally supported by
the Board at home, if a suitable man can be found. A small
family at this place would require $600 a year to enable a man
to devote himself to the work of the ministry, $100 of which is
as much as could reasonably be expected from the people of
the place, tmless favorable changes could be made. Portland,
as I have informed you in a former letter, is the principal
port in Oregon. The present population is estimated at 700
souls. It contains 35 wholesale and retail stores, two tin shops,
four public taverns, two steam sawmills, one steam flouring
mill, with two run of stones, six or eight drinking shops and
billiard tables, one wine and spirit manufactory, a variety of
mechanic shops and from 8 to 15 merchant vessels are always
seen lying at anchor in the river or at the wharves. The Meth-
odists, Presbyterians and Romans have each built them neat
places for public worship.^^^ The Episcopalians have service

259 In 1852 there seems to have been only the following church buildings in
Portland: Methodist, built in 1850; Catholic, 1851; Congregational, 1851. There
was in addition a parish of the Episcopal Church, organized in 1851. A Presby-
terian Church was not organized until 1854. The author evidently confuses the
Presbyterians with the Congregationalists. — Hist of Portland, ed. by H. W. Scott,
pp. 344-3S6.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 335

two Sabbaths each month. The Methodist Church have a
high school in progress and a neat edifice of wood, two
stories, 60 by 40 feet. A few months ago we had ten Baptist
members in this place ; now we can find but six. But about
half of them can be regarded as permanent. This is the
place where nearly all the immigrants by water land and
from which they will go to their various points of destination.
You will see then the importance of early planting a church
in this place.

What I have said of Portland in respect to support is true
of Oregon City. Yet it will not do to abandon that post.
Our school must be sustained and much of that must be done
at the sacrifice of your missionaries. To human appearance
the abandonment of this enterprise would be ruinous. To
tax one man with the labor of the school and the care of the
church and then require him to be put in competition with
ministers of other denominations who are sustained in their
own appropriate work seems much like double working a
man and at the same time taking from him the use of his
tools. In this condition a brother may greatly desire to
show himself "approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," but
it is certain he cannot study much to do these things. After
Brother Chandler's year closes, we shall be compelled to
make some change in his labors so that he may either devote
the most of his energies to the school or to the church. Br.
Johnson's health is slowly improving. I hope he will be able
to enter the field of labor by the first of April. The Molalla
and West Union churches are waiting for his services and
when they learn that he can serve them I have no doubt but
they will make the requisite application and will probably
raise for his support from $150 to $200. Beyond this, he
wishes to itinerate and visit and preach to destitute churches
and settlements, as Providence may direct, half the time.
In view of the scattered condition of our numbers and the
influence he would exert upon the churches and ministers, I
think this will contribute more to organize and strengthen

336 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

the churches than any course he could pursue. We feel
that your Board, if possible, ought to increase his salary at
least to $300. It has been thought advisable by all with
whom I have consulted that I should devote my time to the
business of an exploring agent according to the instructions
contained in the late commission, if I can be sustained. But
I think no reasonable man in Oregon would say this can be
done for less than $500 per year. Something might be done
by the churches and individuals, should the Lord give me
favor with the people. Should your Board make me the
appointment of exploring agent and leave it discretionary
with your missionaries here whether I should attend one or
two churches monthly, I think the object you contemplate
will be accomplished and I can receive about $150 of the
$500 from the churches and reach lall the important points in
the territory except Puget Sound, and perhaps that. Through
this arrangement Br. Johnson and myself would be able
occasionally to spend a Sabbath together in a meeting, if
Providence should indicate. I make this last suggestion
partly to save your Board funds and partly from a conviction
of its practical results on the cause in Oregon. In this event
I would engage to labor one year, should you appoint me
with a salary of $350 from your Board.

Our school building is about $200 in debt, and we must
have $300 or $400 more expended before it will be suitable
to occupy. The latter sum can hardly be raised from the
old subscriptions, although we have some $1200 on the sub-
scription unpaid which was subscribed in good faith. But
what in Oregon is called hard times renders most of it very
doubtful. Somebody must do this work, that somebody
must be one of your missionaries, and I know not but that
missionary must be myself. Our Congregational friends are
about to send one of their ministers to the States to raise
funds to liquidate the debts of the female seminary in this
place. 2'^*' We shall try to do this first work in Oregon if
possible. I have no more available means to apply to this

260 This was Rev. George H. Atkinson. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:680.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 337

work, not enough to purchase a horse for the coming year's
labors, yet I trust my friends will in some way provide me
at least the use of an animal. As it respects the present
appointment for three months, it will be impossible for me
to devote my entire time to the agency. The next five or
six weeks are among the most unfavorable in the year to
travel, except as we do it by steam ; and then I have engage-
ments twice each month which I cannot at once dispense
with, if I can reach them. I have concluded to do what I
can in the agency in connection with my other engagements
and report accordingly. I shall not make a monthly report
till next mail as this general communication is so extended.
We trust with more than usual confidence that the coming
season will be one of some ingathering into the churches.
The future is with the Lord. The present becomes us to
devote to him. Late indications at least appear rather flat-
tering. May we be ena'bled to wait on the Lord in His
appointed ways and His providential indications. As ever,

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received March 16, 1852.

Oregon City, O. Ter., April 1, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Society.
Dear Bro. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the fourth quarter
appointment under the commission forwarded under date of
ending the last day of March, 1852 (or for the three months'
Nov. 29, 1850). The condition of our chvirches and my en-
gagements rendered it necessary that I should supply three
destitute churches up to this time. I have visited Portland
at my regular appointments four times. Have visited the
church in the French Prairie three times, the Lebanon
church (Marion Co.) 12 miles east from Salem, three times ;
the Shilo church, 12 miles south of Salem on the north fork

338 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

of the Santiam once, Albany church at Albany (county seat
of Linn) once ; and the La Creole church, Polk Co., 8 miles S.
W. of Salem (members dispersed through the county). Have
labored 13 weeks, travelled 655 miles, paid $2.25 travelling
expenses. Received $30 for my support, preached 42 ser-
mons, visited religiously 56 families and individuals. My
visit to the La Creole was to meet a public meeting called for
the purpose of taking into consideration ways and means
of meeting the destitution of the feeble churches and new
portions of the territory, if practicable. But four ministers
were present, one of whom is on the eve of leaving for the
States. But four churches were represented and incipient
measures were taken to supply them. It was thought desir-
able that I should attend two of those churches, each one
Sabbath in two months, and that Br. V. Snelling attend them
the alternate Sabbath one each two months. As soon as I
shall have visited them I shall report their state and what
they will do for the support, if that can be learned. It is
slow bringing churches into an organized state for efficient
action, but we will labor toward that as fast as we can.

The meeting was conducted with great unanimity of senti-
ment land, although the weather was very unfavorable, trav-
eling bad and the waters high, the congregations were large
for the place and, after preaching, five were received for bap-
tism and four followed the footsteps of their Redeemer
through the liquid grave, one the teacher of the school in
the place. The deferred member will be baptized next Sab-
bath. He also is one of the leading men in the county. This
church has received four or five others by baptism the past
winter under the labors of Rev. R. C. Hill from Missouri.

Yours in the gospel.
Received May 17, 1852. EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Apr. 1, 1852.
To the Executive Board of the

Am. Bapt. Home Mission Society:
The subscriber desires reappointment as a missionary of the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 339

American Baptist Home Mission Society, for the term of one
year from this date, to labor one-quarter of the time with the
Baptist church at Lebanon, Marion County, one-quarter of
the time with the Shilo church, Marion County, and the
Marysville26i church, Benton County, and to spend the re-
maining time as an itinerant preacher, in which time it is
proposed by the friends in Oregon that I shall visit the Ump-
qua Valley and other portions in Oregon as often as circum-
stances may seem to demand. The Lebanon^^s church is in
an important farming country 12 miles east of Salem ; church
numbers but 8 members. Average attendance on Lord's day
about 50. The missionary Baptists have no church within 12
miles of the place. The church agree to pay for my support
$50 and hope to raise it to $100. The Shilo church has 10
members ; congregation the Sabbath I preached to them
about 55. The position is important, both for farming and
for manufacturing purposes. I cannot tell what they will do
until after the next church meeting. Probably about $50 for
one eighth of the time. I have not visited Marysville
church. It is just constituted by the labors of Elder R. C.
Hill and consists of about 16 members. The Lord has vis-
ited that region with a pleasing revival the past winter and
Elder Hill, in behalf of that church, solicits my labors part
of the time, with the assurance that they will aid in my sup-
port. The point is at the head of navigation and the seat of
justice for Benton County,263 and probably it will become
the most important place above Salem, if not above Oregon
City. Providence has signally opened the door to the Bap-
tists in this place and it seems to me that it should be oc-
cupied immediately. I will append the concurrent certifi-
cate.

EZRA FISHER.

261 This was the present Corvallis. The name was changed in 1854. The
church was organized in December, 1851. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:10.

263 The Lebanon Church was organized May 17, 1851. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of
Ore. 1:16.

263 Benton County was organized in 1847, and was named after Thomas H.
Benton, of Missouri. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:706.

340 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

The Lebanon Baptist church concur in all the terms of
the foregoing application. By order of the church.

JOHN HUNT,
Church Clerk.
This is to certify that I approve of the above application. •

GEO. C. CHANDLER.

N. B. — Elder Johnson is absent, but he assured me he
would recommend this course of labor to me.

N. B. — I cannot visit Marysville church till the first Sab.
in May. I have asked for an appointment of the above kind
from the conviction of all with whom I have conversed that
the churches already gathered should be attended at least
once a month, in preference to exploring ground, no more
important, which we cannot occupy. Should you be disposed
to appoint me exploring agent, with the above named lib-
erty, I will serve you under that name and in that capacity
as far as practicable. As to the salary, your wisdom will de-
cide what is necessary when I say that common laborers
cannot be hired short of from $2 to $3 per day and mechan-
ics from $5 to $6. All articles of living are from 50 to 100
per cent above your city prices.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received May 17, 1852.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., May 25, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br.:

A desire to be able to communicate the state of the Bap-
tist cause in Benton county when I next wrote you and my
being unable to visit that county till the first Sabbath in
this month forms my excuse for not forwarding the concur-
rent certificate of the Shilo church in Marion Co. to the ap-
plication which I made in the month of Mar. for a reappoint-
ment as your missionary in Oregon.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 341

At the regular church meeting the Shilo church invited
Elder Ezra Fisher to take charge of the church and agreed
to raise one hundred dollars for his services one fourth of
the time ; also resolved to ask the Board of the Am. Baptist
Home Missionary Society to appoint Elder Ezra Fisher as a
missionary in the bounds of this church and to itinerate in
the territory so as to promote the interests of the destitute
churches and villages. The church heard the statements of
Elder Fisher relating to the application which he had made
for reappointment as a missionary in Oregon and concur in
all the terms of the application as stated by him. Post Of-
fice address is Salem, Marion Co., O. T.

Shilo Church, Apr. 3d, 1852.

AARON CORNELIUS,

Church Clerk.

N. B. — By means of my being called away from the church
before the clerk could attend to this application, Br. Corne-
lius requested me to make the statement of the facts and
use his name in reference to this matter.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

Now as I have a little spare paper I wish to state a few
facts. I visited the Marysville church, Benton Co., eighty
miles above Oregon City by land and 160 by water, Satur-
day and Sabbath, the first and second days in Mzy. Preach-
ed both days and visited four days in their bounds. The
weather was unusually rainy, having been preceded by heavy
rains for ten days so that all the streams were high, and
most of the members living at a distance could not attend.
The church had no meeting for business ; on Saturday I
preached to eight persons ; Sabbath to about sixty-five. The
facts touching the history of this church are interesting.
Brother Hill from Missouri, having sustained himself by
teaching and practicing medicine in Albany, about 15 miles
below, on the east side of the river, while he preached on
Sabbaths, was invited by a brother to visit and preach to the

342 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

people in Marysville on Sabbath. Br. Hill complied with the
request and discovered such indications of Divine favor as
induced him to repeat his appointments, till he soon found
that Providence manifestly called him to visit from house
to house through the day and to preach each evening in some
of the sparse settlements. He continued his labors about
two months, during which time he baptized fourteen coil-
verts, numbers of old professors were revived and a church
was constituted in Marysville, the county seat of Benton
County, one of the most commanding points on the Wil-
lamette River. The church has since increased till it now
numbers 30 members ; others will unite by baptism and pro-
fession during the summer. The church have voted to build
a neat house of worship, 30 feet by 40, paint the outside and
finish the inside, and have contracted the work at $2500, to
be finished next Sept. By these providential interpositions
the interests of the Baptist denomination in the county are
more promising than those of any other sect. Marysville is
the head of steamboat navigation at present and must be-
come one of the best points on the river for trade, with a
surrounding country unrivalled in point of fertility of soil
and beauty of scenery. At the solicitude of some of the
members and friends I consented to spend the fifth Sabbath
in this month with them. The church will make arrange-
ments during the month of June to supply themselves once
or twice each month. Should they invite me to preach
monthly with them, I shall regard it my duty to comply
with the request till they can get a man to devote his entire
labors in Benton County.

Marysville is about two years old, contains about eight
or ten families, five dry goods stores and about twenty frame
buildings. A brisk trade is carried on between the place and
the gold mines.264. The church paid Br. Hill something more
than $200 for his services and I think would raise some $200

264 Corvallis was about three miles east of the Hudson Bay Company's trail
to California. — G. H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 343

to $400 salary for a suitable minister to preach all the time in
the county.

You will hear more from this place in two or three
months. My time is all taken up in travelling and preach-
ing and performing the duties of a minister in Oregon. My
lungs have been troublesome through the winter and are not
entirely healed. Br. Johnson is still unable to preach.

Yours truly,
Received July 17, 1852. EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I received the bills of lading for the goods shipped
on the M. Howes Jan. 13 and 20.

Oregon City, O. T.. July 28, 1852.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. York.
Dear Brother:

Yours under date June 3rd came to hand by the last mail.
You will learn before the receipt of this that I am making ar-
rangements to devote all my time to the agency. Br. Read
is now disengaged from the school and I hope soon to see
him situated where he can take care of one or more churches.
I hope he will meet the wishes of the brethren at Marysville.
I look upon this place as the most surely available point
of importance for the Baptists above Oregon City. I gave
you a brief description of the place and its position in point
of trade. Although it is difficult at this period in the history
of our country to decide with certainty what may be the de-
velopments of a country rich with agricultural resources on
one hand, while on the other new and rich discoveries of gold
mines are being made almost monthly, yet such are its rela-
tions to the whole of these resources that it seems hardly pos-
sible that it should fail of becoming the first town of import-
ance in the Willamette Valley. I spent the Sabbath with this
young church on the 11th of this month, at which time three
valuable members were received by letter and one related
her experience and was received as a candidate for baptism.

344 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

On the second Sabbath in next month on my way to Ump-
qua and Rogue rivers I shall probably baptize two and re-
ceive one more by experience. On the third Sabbath of this
month and the two preceding days I attended the yearly
meeting of the Lebanon church. This was a scene mingled
with joy and grief. Here I found a young married lady,
whom the church had expected soon to receive by baptism,
lying at the point of death and she expired on Saturday, en-
joying a comfortable hope of a blissful immortality beyond
the grave. On Sabbath I baptized one young man into the
fellowship of the church who found the Saviour precious
last month. One young brother was received by letter. In
the afternoon the church for the first time received the ordi-
nance of the Lord's Supper. Elder Sperry,265 our itiner-
ant, was with me through the meetings. This church is
small, as you will see by referring to the minutes, and in the
country, but its position is good, being twelve miles east
from Salem, the present seat of government, and in the
heart of an extensively rich farming country. The commu-
nity are mostly farmers. The members are intelligent and in-
fluential. This church have sustained a Sunday school the
last year and will probably soon resume it.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

The Oregon City church at the regular meeting on the 3d of
July invited Rev. George C. Chandler to continue to labor with
them another year ; resolved that they would raise $100 to-
ward his support and appointed a committee to confer with
Br. Chandler, learn the sum necessary to support his fami-
ly and, should Br. Chandler comply with the request, make
application to the Home Missionary Society for aid suffic-
ient to enable him to devote himself exclusively to the min-
istry. . . .

265 This was Rev. William Sperry (1811-1857). He was born in Kentucky,
moved to Ohio and to Iowa and came to Oregon in 1851. He was at this time the
missionary of the Willamette Association (Baptist). In 1854 he was pastor of the
Pleasant Butte Church in Lane County. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:86, 19.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 345

The church committee were informed that a committee
appointed by the Methodist church to inquire into the nec-
essary expenses of their minister stationed at Oregon City,
with a family of the minster, his wife and one little child, a.
babe, exclusive of the parsonage, which would probably rent
for $300 or $400, reported to the church $850

To the Executive Board of the Am. Bap. Home Missionary
Society: The church at Oregon City desires the reappoint-
ment of Elder George C. Chandler as a missionary of the
American Baptist Home Missionary Society to labor all the
time within its bounds for twelve months from the first day
of Sept. 1852, at a salary of $1250, one hundred dollars of
which the church pledges herself she will pay : By order of
the church, George P. Newell, Lyman D. C. Latourette,^^^
Ezra Fisher, Committee of the Church.
Received Sept. 13, 1852.

Oregon City, July 28, '52.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Will you do me the favor to order me a copy of the New
York Recorder to Mr. John Robinson to Marysville postoffice,
Benton Co., O. T., and pay for the same and charge the same
to my account?

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I shall write you no more until after my return
from Umpqua and Rogue River valleys. The distance is
about 350 miles out, and my return the same, which will re-
quire about six weeks to perform and reach all the points I
wish. I leave home tomorrow morning. We greatly need
the prayers of God's people in Oregon that Heaven's richest
blessings may rest upon us in laying the foundation for ef-

266 For G. P. Newell, see note 240.

L. D. C. Latourette (1825-1886), was born in New York, came to Oregon in
1848, and after a short stay in the California mines in 1849, returned to Oregon
City. In and near this town he spent the remainder of his life. His first wife, Lucy
Jane Gray, was the eldest daughter of the author. She died in 1864, and Mr. Lat-
ourette later married her younger sister, Ann Eliza.

346 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ficieiit Christian enterprise for after ages. I have collected
over $1000 since last fall for our school building. The work
has advanced so far that the school is now in it : but we
must immediately look for other teachers, or rather teacher.
It seems to me desirable that we should have an efficient
young man qualified to teach an academy in N. Y. who
wishes to make teaching a profession and could at the same
time exert an influence in the Baptist cause. We have had
no meeting of the Board for eight weeks and they are now
scattered so that it has been impracticable to call a meeting
since my return last week. I feel safe however in request-
ing you to find such a man. The school will number about
30 next year, perhaps more. We need very much the port-
able maps, on rollers, of the world, the United States, North
America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and a map of
the Ancient Roman Empire and one of Palestine. Could
not some friends secure them for us so that you could send
them out next winter?

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Sep. 13, 1852.

Oregon City, O. T., Sept. 6, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bap. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Brother:

Having just returned from a tour of the Umpqua I hasten
to give you a brief account of my tour. Leaving home on
the 29th of Aug., I took a small steamer267 for Champoeg,^^^
a small village of some eight or ten houses, principally log
built in French style, with two small stores. This town is
situated on the east bank of the Willamette near the north

267 The first steamship traffic on the lower Willamette was in 1850, and from
the summer of 1851 steamers became numerous. In 1852 a number were running
on tiie upper river. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. II :256.

268 ChamjioeK was the oldest settlement in French Prairie, which was. in turn,
the oldest settlement in the Willamette Valley. The derivation of the word is not
certain, but is possibly "Sandy Encampment." — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:72. F. V.
Holman, Hist, of the Counties of Ore. in Ore Hist. Soc. Quar. XI:21.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 347

extremity of French Prairie, 30 miles from Oregon City by
water. I landed at 1 P. M. Being without a horse, I walked
18 miles. My way lay through the French Prairie in a
south and southeast course, skirted first on the right and
then on the left by beautiful glades of fir and branched oak,
while the prairie is studded with fields of wheat standing in
the shock, indicating a generous return to the labors of the
husbandman. Spent the night with Br. Smith and was
happy to learn from him that the church at French Prairie
had secured the labors of Rev. John Rexford^^^ one Sabbath
each month. From this church my way lay through the up-
per end oT French Prairie six miles south across what is
falsely called Lake La Bish,27o a tract of rich marsh land
about 200 or 300 yards in width and some 3 or 4 miles in
length, forming the summit level between the Willamette
and Pudding rivers, thence six miles through timber and
prairie to Salem, the present capital of our Territory .^^i
Found three or four Baptist members near this place, but
hastened to the place of my appointment twelve miles up
Mill creek through one of the most delightful prairies and
surrounded by one of the most picturesque sceneries in
North America, if not in the world. In this valley, about
two and a half miles from the north fork of the Santiam
and six miles east from the Willamette, is a log school house,
about 20 by 22 feet, where the Shilo church meet to worship
the God of Heaven. Here I spent the Saturday and Sab-
bath and preached each day, on Sa'bbath to a full house. The
church consists of 12 members and pays $100 for the preach-
ed word one Sab. each month. Their position is good. The
members of the church, although a few, are among the most
substantial citizens and sustain a Sabbath school, yet are
surrounded by Methodists, Campbellites, Anti-missionary

269 Rev. John Re.xford was born in Canada, came from Illinois to Oregon in
1851, and died in Detroit, Mich., in 1880. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:16.

270 Lake La Bische has since been drained.

271 The capital was ordered transferred to Salem in 1851 and has remained
there until the present time with the exception of a few months in 1855, when it
was at Corvallis. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:146, 147. See also W. C. Winslow,
Contest Over the Capital of Oregon, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. VIII :173-178.

348 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Baptists and unbelievers. A good minister would find this
one of the most important country locations in any new
country. On the twelfth I passed through the fork of the
Santiam, a fine prairie country, eighteen miles, stopping and
preaching at three P. M. Spent three days with the Santiam
church visiting, and preached once. This is a small and af-
flicted church on the south side of the south fork of the
Santiam, under the pastoral care of Rev. Richmond Cheadle,
and situated in a rich, level, prairie country near the only
soda springs in the Willamette Valley, which are acquiring
some celebrity for their medicinal properties. This church
is thirty miles south of Salem and 15 east of Albany, Lynn
County seat.

Sept. 12, at Lebanon, Marion County. Passing through
an open prairie country, 24 miles, I came to Marysville, the
county seat of Benton County, standing on the west bank of
the Willamette River 70 miles by land above this place.
Preached on the 17th and 18th, baptized two candidates and
received one more for baptism. The house, 30 by 40 feet,,
is nearly completed. Here a minister is more immediately
needed than in any other point in the territory — a ready,
business-like, devoted preacher, who could give direction and
exercise a general supervision in bringing into existence and
sustaining an academical school for the denomination. Such
a man would receive $200 or $250 from the church the first
year. The church is young and inexperienced, but is by far
the most wealthy church in the territory. From Marysville
I followed up the valley of the most western fork of the Wil-
lamette 70 miles through a level prairie country studded
with small groves of ash and soft maple, while the hills were
crowned with oak groves, but on the Willamette bottoms the
balm of Gilead, white fir and soft maple constitute the prin-
cipal growth of timber. Crossing the Calapooia Mountains,
a distance of 8 miles by good wagon road, one enters what
is called the Umpqua Valley,272 which consists of a series of

272 For the early history of the Umpqua Valley, see note 246.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 349

narrow valleys varying from a few yards to three or four
miles in width. In the midst of these valleys and on every
hand rise hills varying in form and elevation from the gentle
sloping mound fifty feet in elevation to low mountains rais-
ing their imposing summits 2000 or 3000 feet above the level
of the valleys below, whose sloping sides are covered with a
luxuriant growth of the most nutritious grasses, everywhere
interspersed with open groves of red and white oak. Fenc-
ing and building timber is rather scarce till you approach
tlie Coast, Cascade and transverse ranges of mountains.
Springs of pure water are abundant near the base of these
hill slopes. After crossing the Calapooia Mountains, I trav-
eled about 50 miles through these valleys on the great road
from the Willamette Valley to the gold mines.^^^ This road
has already become a great thoroughfare where loaded wag-
ons, pack trains of mules and horses and droves of beef cattle
■are daily passing. These valleys are fast filling up with set-
tlers and it is confidently believed that the largest portion
of the arable land will be taken up before the first of next
January. The population of the Umpqua Valley may now
be estimated at 1500 or 2000 souls, among which I found six
Baptist members. On the 25th I preached at Winchester,^^^
the only village in the main valley, to about 60 attentive
hearers. Winchester is situated about the center of the val-
ley, or rather assemblage of valleys, on the south bank of
the north fork of the Umpqua on the great road. It contains
four families and one store, a saw and grist mill and two or
three mechanic shops. The seat of justice for the county will
probably be located about six miles south of this on the south
fork. The valley contains nearly two counties, and, as yet, not
a single preacher of any denomination. This district of coun-
try lies contiguous to the gold mines, is extremely rich in agri-
cultural resources, and of water power there is no end. Great

273 This road followed in most places the old Hudson Bay Company's trail to
California. — G. H. Himes.

274 Winchester was laid out in 1850. It was on a trail to the coast and to the
mines. The county seat of Douglas County was there until 1853, when it was trans-
ferred to Roseburg, as the author prophesies. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:183,711.

350 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

anxiety was expressed by the citizens of every description for
the settlement of ministers and school teachers among them.
It is about two years since the first white family settled in the
valley and probably not more than five or six evangelical ser-
mons have been preached in that whole district. Mr, Jesse Ap-
plegate,^''^ the leading man in the valley, assured me, if the
Baptists would locate a school in his neighborhood with a
view of raising it to an academical school, he would donate 40
acres of choice land and he and his brother^^s would each
give $1000 toward erecting a suitable building and he thought
another brother would give $1000 for the same object. In
the absence of a common school system, and in view of the re-
ligious and literary destitution of that country and the pros-
pects of its rapid development both in population and re-
sources and in view of the untiring efforts of other religous
sects, upon consultation with our brethren here, we have
thought it best for Br. Read to proceed immediately to the
Umpqua and commence preaching to the destitute, and at
the same time look after the interests of education and at-
tempt, if practicable, to lay the foundation for a Baptist acad-
emy in as favor'ed a location as can be secured, as his labors
have closed with the Oregon City College.

I did not visit Scottsburg,^^^ the commercial point for the
Umpqua, but learned that it consists of six dry goods stores,
is near the head of tide water on the Umpqua, some four or
five families residing in the vicinity, and that the entire com-
munity consists of about 70 or 75 souls. Fifteen vessels have

275 Jesse Applegate was a well-known figure in early Oregon history. lie was a
leader in the immigration of 1843. He was a prominent member of the provisional
legislature in 1845 and 1849. In 1846 he helped open a southern route to the Will-
amette Valley. In 1849 he settled near Yoncalla, in the Umpqua Valley. He was
Indian agent in 1870, candidate for U. S. Senator in 1876, and died in 1888. — Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore. 1:393, 473, 544, 568; 11:178, 564, 673, 763.

276 Charles Applegate came to Oregon in 1843 and settled in the Umpqua Valley
in 1849 near his brother. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:393, 569.

The other brother was Lindsey, who also came to Oregon in 1843 and who had
settled where Ashland now stands. — Ibid. I :569, 393.

277 Scottsburg was at the head of tidewater on the Umpqua and was named
after Levi Scott. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:178.

It was the point from which settlers in Southern Oregon got many of their
supplies. There had been a Hudson Bay Company's post there, and mule trails to
the interior of Oregon. — Mrs. S. A. Long, Mrs. Jesse Applegate, in Ore. Hist. Soc.
Quar. VIII :182.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 351

entered the mouth of the river within the last 15 months.
Next month I expect to visit Rogue River. On my return
I visited the church just constituted in the forks of the Wil-
lamette^^s and spent the Sabbath. At present I shall defer
giving you a description of this church, except to mention
that our itinerant, Rev. Mr. Sperry, preaches to them month-
ly and they are sustaining a Sunday school. Circumstances
over which I have no control prevented my proceeding to
Rogue River as I intended when I left home, but, by Divine
permission, I shall visit that part of the country next month.
Indications seem very favorable that an immediate and ur-
gent demand will be made for the appointment of an effic-
ient, enterprising, devoted missionary to labor a^ the Indian
Agency, where we have two valuable Baptist families, and
Jacksonville, the trading town for the rich mining district
now attracting many miners on the Rogue River, and but
seven miles from the Agency. I trust you will be casting
about you with prayerful anxiety to find the very man to
meet vice in all its forms and succeed in that place. . . .

Numbers of appointments must be made, which will re-
quire from $300 to $400 each from your Board, or the cause
must be given over into other hands for the want of effic-
ient ministers. The Old School Presbyterian Church has three
missionaries here, with but one church, very small.^^^ Con-
gregationalists have seven or eight ministers, the Methodists
about a score, Seceders four to five, Cumberland Presbyter-
ians four or five, Campbellites six or seven and Anti-mis-
sionary Baptists six or eight. It strikes me that four mis-
sionaries should be immediately apponted for Oregon who
should be subject to the advice of the ministers here in the
selection of their location. Marysville, Salem and Portland
are all suffering for want of efficient Baptist ministers, yet

278 This church was organized May 1, 1852, by Revs. Vincent Snelling and
William Sperry. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:19.

279 The three old-school Presbyterian missionaries were Revs. Lewis Thompson,
Robert Robe and E. R. Geary. J. A. Hanna had also probably arrived by this time.
The church was probably the one at Corvallis. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:680, 681.

Among the Congregational ministers were Revs. Harvev Clark, Geo. H. Atkin-
son, Myron Eells, Horace Lyman and Elkanah Walker. — Ibid. 11:679; 1:137.

352 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

the distance is so far from New York and the time is so
long before you can secure the labors of the right man that
we are obliged to throw such laborers into the field as we
have and, by the time of the arrival of a man just adapted for
the field, we have a man in the way who cannot be removed
without temporary injury to the cause.

Our school at Oregon City is doing well as yet. Br. Chan-
dler's labors close in about two weeks and we have found no
teacher to succeed him. We expect we shall be compelled
to take up a temporary teacher. The Trustees, at a late
meeting, instructed me to correspond with you and request
you to secure for us a teacher, if possible, from one of the
New England or New York colleges, who wishes to identify
himself with a rising institution and grow up with it, with
hopes of permanency in the professon of teaching. We think
the school will give such a man a reasonable support. He
should by all means bring along with him an amiable, in-
telligent wife.

The goods that were shipped on the M. Howes arrived safe
and in good order except a few pairs of ladies' shoes and
gaiters ; the numbers of pairs I cannot now state, as I am
from home and have not the invoice of goods along, but will
state particulars in my next.

The importance of our mission to Oregon is every day be-
coming more manifest and we daily need more grace and
wisdom and energy to meet the openings of providence in
laying broad and deep the foundations of institutions for en-
larged Christian philanthropy. As a denomination we are
suffering for the want of an efficient colporteur of the Amer-
ican Baptist Publication Society. A colporteur who could
be kept constantly supplied with books to meet the demands
of the people, and so sustained that he could go everywhere
carrying and selling his books and preaching the Word,
would, by harmonizing discordant elements and scattering
broadcast the seed of evangelical truth in a luxuriant soil, ac-
complish a work for Oregon which no other man can do.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 353

When I think on this subject all my bones are pained. We
are now out of books and the Society's agent^^o is at home
providing for his family, teaching school for a support,
while every Methodist circuit rider is selling books of the
Arminian stamp through the country and the Campbellites
have their books on the way to proselyte to their faith. It
strikes me that a colporteur missionary must be sustained
by the Publication Soc. and that the results will soon justify
the outlay. Pray for us that our faith and labors fail not.

Respectfully,
EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. T., Sept. 22, '52.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. York.
Dear Br.:

I learn by a letter which Br. Chandler has just received
from you that you are in correspondence with a brother who
is willing to come to Oregorj as a professional teacher, and
who is a licentiate.2^^ If he can preach, and your Board
cannot send him as a teacher, could you not give him an ap-
pointment as you did Brs. Chandler and Read? If so, and
he can preach to the edification of the people, we can find
profitable use for him as a teacher and preacher in this place
and vicinity. This would operate to liberate the pastor here
and enable him to exert a more general personal influence in
the surrounding villages and the churches in the Willamette
Valley. We feel that we must have an efficient, professional
teacher, and we must look to you for the man. . . .

Please send the Home Mission Record to the following
brethren : William S. Wilmot,282 eight copies, Salem Post-

280 This was Rev. Richmond Cheadle.

281 This was probably J. D. Post, who came to Oregon in 1852. — Mattoon, Bap.
An. of Ore. 1:37.

282 Rev. William S. Wilmot, M. D., was born in Kentucky in 1808, moved to
Missouri in 1841, and to Oregon in 1850. He settled in Marion County and was
connected with the Shiloh Church for about twenty years. He was ordained in
1859, and later lived in Washington and Idaho. He died at Beaverton, Ore. — Mat-
toon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:71.

354 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ofitice, Russel T. Hill, eight copies, Santiam Post-office, and
John Trapp, eight copies, Marysville Post-office, and charge
the same to my account. I have received pay. Will you
order to Talbert Carter,283 Albany Post-office, one copy of the
New York Recorder, and pay for the same and charge me
with the amount. I wish not to be responsible for any paper
I order more than a year at a time. Should they not order
them renewed, you will have them discontinued at the end
of the year.

The ladies' shoes and gaiters not received in the bill of
goods referred to in another sheet are one pair women's
Brogans, 90 cents; two pairs morocco, marked $1.00 each;
one pair calf marked 70 cents; one pair kid marked $1.00;
and one pair colored gaiters $1.38. Total $5.98. I presume
they were overlooked and not put up. It is possible the
box might have been opened on the way, but not probable.
During my absence the past three weeks, my family have
been occupied with the family of Rev. Mr. Stevens^^^ from
northern Ohio. His wife and three of the children have had
a severe attack of the camp fever. The affliction was deep-
ened by the death of his eldest daughter of seventeen years.
Br. Stevens goes to Marysville. I hope he will succeed
there. His family left my house this morning in an en-
feebled state. The immigrants are every day reaching our
valley in large numbers. The number of immigrants for
Oregon are variously estimated from five to twenty thcu-
sand souls.285 There has been an unusual amount of suffer-
ing on the way by cholera, in a mitigated form, and camp
fever. Those who come by the overland route should in-
variably start early, take the most wholesome kinds of food,
drive regularly and make no forced marches, except in the

283 Tolbert Carter (1825-1899) was born in Illinois, moved to Missouri in 1841,
and to Oregon in 1846. He settled in Benton County and served several terms in
the state legislature. He was prominent in church life as a licensed preacher and
deacon.- — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:57.

284 Rev. Thomas Stephens (1803-1888) was born in Wales, where he was or-
dained, lived later in New York and Ohio, and came to Oregon in 1852. He preached
for the Shiloh and Corvallis churches for a time and later settled near Roseburg. —
Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:14. See also the letter of Aug. 22, 1853.

285 See note 154.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 355

absence of grass or water, and rest Sabbaths, except where
water and grass is not to be found. I write this that fol-
lowing immigrations may profit by the advice. No doubt
many on the route have lost their lives through neglect
either in providing a suitable outfit, or through too much
haste and irregular habits on the way. It should be pro-
claimed through the length and breadth of the States that
food made up principally of rancid bacon-sides, shoulders
and hams, hot biscuits mixed with the fats fried therefrom
and water, hot coffee, as strong as it can be made, mornings,
noon and night, with no vegetables and little dried fruit
for four or five months in succession, is enough to generate
fatal diseases in any climate, but especially where all, both
male and female, are exposed to extreme fatigue and con-
stant anxiety of mind. I shall leave in aibout two weeks for
the Rogue River, if the rains do not become too severe. In
the meantime I shall attend a yearly meeting in Polk Co.
with the LaCreole church.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Sept. 30, 1852.

Oregon City, O. T., Oct. 16, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Herein I send you a bill of goods which I wish you to
purchase for me and forward as soon as you can ship direct
to Portland, Oregon, as follows :

1 large cooking stove, furniture and ten pieces of pipe.
Let the pipe be bent for locking and be left open so that it
can be packed close ; it can be put together here. 1 good
patent lever watch, full jeweled, chain and key. I want a-
gdod time keeper. 1 small timepiece. Let it not cost more
than $10 or $12. 1 good hat for riding, rather wide-brim-
med, 231/2 inches around the outside of the hat at the head.
1 travelling overcoat, suitable for my business in a wet

356 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Oregon winter, thick and firm, not coarse. 1 pair stout
cassimere pantaloons, lined throughout. 1 stout cassimere
frock coat; coats rather large for you will fit me. 1 good
double-breasted cassimere vest for winter travelling. 1 sub-
stantial black summer vest. One vest for a young man, mid-
dling size. 25 or 30 yds. of woolen plaid ; if not in the market,
linsey, green and black or green and red. One web of
bleached sheeting, fine and firm. 2 bolts of unbleached cot-
ton sheeting, not coarse. 1 bolt good, dark calico. 25 yds.
of worsted delaine, figured, not light colored ; if no worsted
delaine in market, get the amount in worsted goods for
women's dresses. 8 yards of white muslin for young ladies'
dresses. 1 bolt of good gingham, not very light colored.

1 parasol, suitable for a young lady, not very light.
16 yards cambric for lining. 6 yards brown holland.

2 good brown linen tablecloths, 6 feet square.
10 yards good brown linen toweling, all linen.
Half-pound black Italian sewing silk, good.

18 yards good, fine twilled red flannel. 6 papers of pins,
dififerent sizes.

1 pound black linen thread.

6 cards good hooks and eyes. 12 fine ivory combs, large.
6 tucking combs. 1 roll of black ribbon, ly^ inches wide. 1
box adamantine candles. 1 good glass lantern. Fourth gross
matches. 1 barrel New Orleans sugar, good. 200 letter en-
velopes. Half-ream letter paper, best article.

One dozen cut glass tumblers. 2 ladies' bonnets, one of
which is for a girl of 11 years, each trimmed. 2 copies
Downing's work on Horticulture's^ 1 copy Preacher's Man-
ual by Rev. S. T. Sturtevant.287 1 copy of Williams' Miscel-
laneous.288 1 pair fine calf boots, number lO's. 1 do. No.
ll's, high in the instep. 1 pair water-proof calf boots, dou-
ble sole and feet, lined with good calf, not very heavy. 1

286 Andrew Jackson Downing's "Fruit and Fruit Trees of America" was first
published in 184S, and passed through many editions.

287 S. F. Sturtevant, Preacher's Manual, published by John C. Riker, New
York, 8vo., $2.50. O. A. Roorbach, Bibliotheca Americana, p. 525.

288 William R. Williams, Miscellanies. New York, 1850. See also note 237.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 357

pair calf shoes, fine, No. 9. 1 do. No. 10, good article. 2
pair little boys' calfskin shoes. No. 9. 1 pair ladies' gaiters,
drab or slate colored. No. 4's. 1 do. black, No. 41/2. 2 pairs
morocco boots. No. 4i/2- 2 do., one morocco and one enameled.
No. 4. 1 pair ladies' calfskin boots, No. 4. 1 pair misses'
enameled boots, No. 12. 1 pair morocco do. No. 12. 1 pair
calfskin do. No. 12. 2 pair ladies' India rubber boots, Nos.
6 and 7, rough bottoms. 10 pairs good, long-legged men's
half hose. 6 pairs lamb's wool ladies' hose. 2 pairs colored
cotton do. and 2 pairs white cotton do. 3 pairs boys' half
hose, boy 6 yrs. old. 2 bandana silk handkerchiefs. 2 ladies'
dress collars. 1 pair large ladies' silk gloves, drab or snuff
color. 2 dozen nutmegs, 1 pound cinnamon, be sure it is
good; 1 g'lass jar, about 1 gallon; 8 lbs. salsoda; 6 pounds
saleratus, 1 good razor, 2 washing tubs, one to fit inside
other; 1 waiter for tea table, medium size; 1 flatiron, large;
3 good cotton umbrellas; 1 good steel blade shovel, round
pointed; 12 sheets perforated cardboard for ladies' marking,
white, pink, blue, green. Worsted for working different col-
ors. 15 skeins silk of different colors for marking. 1 pair
saddle bags for riding, rather large size; 1 large travelling
trunk; pack it full before boxing it. 65 pounds of nails, 15
lbs. 4's, 25 lbs. 6's, 15 lbs. 8's and 10 lbs. of 10 pennys. 1
good walking cane, good length. 1 good ladies' winter
shawl. 1 silk scarf for young lady, changeable blue and pink
or blue and white. 1 pair good spectacles set in silver for a
man 53 years old. 3 boxes water-proof boot blacking.
Received Nov. 29, 1852.

Oregon City, Oct. 18, 1852.
Dear Br. Hill:

In my last quarterly report I omitted to state the amount
I received for my support, which was twenty-five dollars
($25.00). This was occasioned by my haste to get my report
to the office before the mail closed. I have made out a bill
rather large, but it falls short of the wants of the family.
I have thoug'ht that, in the event it exceeds the amount due

358 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

me for the time I have reported, you might perhaps accom-
modate me with the amount and forward the goods by the
first vessel up for Oregon and wait for the balance till I
report again, as it is inconvenient for me to order my family
supplies oftener than once a year.

I wish you also to order on my account one copy of the
New York Recorder, or the Christian Chronicle, as it may
suit your convenience, and pay for the same in advance, for
J. M. Barnes, to be directed to Cincinnati Post-office,
Oregon Ter.

I believe I acknowledged receipt of yours under date of
June 25, 1852. I shall leave today for a yearly meeting on
the French Prairie and shall not return till I have visited
Rogue River settlements, unless the rains should swell the
streams so as to make travelling dangerous.

As ever yours in Christ,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Nov. 29, 1852.

Lebanon, twelve miles east of Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
Ten, Nov. 22, 1852.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Owing to the winter rains coming down with so much
frequency just at the time I got in readiness to make a tour
to Rogue River, the fact that the immigration was moving
on in that direction in such numbers and the great scarcity
of provisions in that country, all of which would contribute
to throw the community in an unsettled condition, I con-
cluded to spend the rainy season in the older and more
settled parts of Oregon and defer my visit to Rogue River
and Puget Sound till the opening of the spring. At that
time the immigrants will find their homes and begin to look
around them with desire to secure the necessary appendages
of civilization and a means of grace. From all the facts that

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 359

have fallen under my observation I have not the least doubt
there is an important opening for the constitution of a
Baptist church at the Indian agency only seven miles from
Jacksonville, a rising mining town near Rogue River.^s^
Judge Rice^^o and wife and some two or more members
besides are located near the agency and will do what they
can to sustain Baptist preaching. Br. James S. Read is in
the Umpqua at Winchester, and I learn by a letter that he
will soon constitute a church at that place. He should be
reappointed to labor at Winchester and other parts of the
Umpqua Valley. I am unable to say what will be neces'=;ary
to enable him to give himself to the ministry. He will be
able to give you the necessary information. I think he will
not be able to sustain himself on less than $500 or $600.
Br. Read is a devoted, studious, thinking, exemplary man
and wishes ardently to give himself wholly to the ministry.
Br. Chandler has moved onto a claim twelve miles south
from Oregon City.^^i This he did with a view of securing
his family the means of sustenance. We do not blame him
for making the move, but regret that our best men must
take their families onto farms because they cannot be sus-
tained in the towns. We expect he will preach to the church
at Oregon City this year. We have at this time not a single
minister located in a town as pastor, unless Winchester may
be called a town. It seems that we must have a minister
sustained at Oregon City, Portland and Salem, each, if it is
possible. We need to have the example given to our
churches of an efficient, devoted ministry, and this influence
should go out from our towns. Yet in our towns we have
few members, and they are not able like our landholders.
We can find no self-denying man who will leave a flourishing
church in N. York or N. England and move to our new

289 In February, 1852, gold was discovered near the present Jacksonville, the
beginning of successful mining in the Rogue River. Other discoveries soon followed,
and there was a large influx of miners. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:186.

290 This was L. A. Rice. He was County Judge for two years. — Mattoon, Bap.
An. of Ore. 1:137.

291 This claim, known on government maps as the G. C. Chandler Donation
Land Claim, is in Township 4 South, Range 2 East, of the Willamette Meridian, and
is on Milk Creek, about three miles southeast of Mulino, Clackamas County.

360 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

towns in Oregon without seeing a prospect of having his
family sustained. Till some provisions are made adequate to
the support of the ministry, if they are induced to move to
Oregon with a prospect of sustaining the cause in a rising
town, they will not long stay where want stares them in
the face while they see that their wants may be easily met
by laboring three or four days in a week with their hands
in the country. At this time wheat is worth from $3.00 to
$4.00 per bushel, flour $14.00 to $15.00 per hundred pounds;
fresh beef 14 to 16 cents per pound, rice 25, sugar about 20,
eggs from 50 cents to a dollar per dozen. A good cow and
calf $100. Wood from $7.00 to $9.00 per cord. With these
prices, no minister in Oregon with a small family can support
his family and give himself entirely to the ministry of the
word short of $1000 per year. In Umpqua and Rogue rivers
we must add from 25 to 100 per cent to these prices. With
all these embarrassments staring the ministry in the face
and with all these temptations to leave the ministry to serve
tables we need tried and devoted men. And it does seem
to me that such men should not be forsaken. Yet we have
the promise of the Good Shepherd, "Lo, I am with you,"
and we still pray and trust Him and work on, if we have to
do as Paul did for the Corinthian Church. Our country
churches are advancing in pecuniary ability and I think I
can say, too, in willingness to sustain the ministry. If our
churches are rightly trained, they will soon give liberally
for the support of the gospel, both at home and abroad. I
spent Saturday and Sabbath with this church. Sabbath was
unusually rainy ; few persons were out, not more than fifteen,
yet it was thought best to take up a collection in favor of
the Home Mission Society. Accordingly the hat was passed.
It was rather a family circle than a church. The collection
amounted to ($3.50) three dollars and fifty cents. I shall
be unable to take up collections this winter, but hope the
churches will begin to sympathize deeply with your Society's
operations by contributing liberally to its support. I shall
spend most of my time with the churches and destitute settle-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 361

ments in the Willamette Valley and the valley of the
Columbia the coming winter. Probably shall spend a Sab-
bath at Salem during the coming session of the legislature.
Should you appoint a man to preach one year at Oregon
City and vicinity who will teach the school, probably he
would render effectual service to the church and meet press-
ing wants in the school with a commission of $200 or $300
salary and we would be supplied with a man who could in
a great measure superintend the cause of education. Elder
Johnson is yet feeble, but able to preach part of the time.
We have an accession to the ministry by the last immigra-
tion of five or six men, but most of them are far advanced
in life and manifestly came to Oregon to settle their families
and to find a quiet repose for their declining years.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Jan. 14, 1853.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Dec. 29, '52.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Your letters under date Oct. 5 and Nov. 2 and 3 were
received by the last two mails. Having just returned from
a tour up the Willamette Valley after a detention at Salem
and vicinity of two weeks by rains, high water and snow, I
take the earliest opportunity to answer your inquiries touch-
ing the cause of Br. Chandler's leaving the school. While he
continued connected with the school he gave as general
satisfaction, both to the Trustees and supporters, as we
could reasonably expect of any man in that station. As far
as my knowledge extends, all were desirous that he should
continue in that station. Sometime during the summer
term (I think) he expressed his doubt whether it could be
his duty to confine his labors to a school of boys but little
in advance of a common school in the States. The Trustees
could not say to a man evidently called to preach the gospel,

362 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

"You must continue to teach." We, however, expressed our
wishes that he w^ould continue to sustain the relation he held
to the school. Near the close of the summer or earh' in
the fall term Br. C. informed us positively that he must
leave the school at the close of the year and wished us to
look out for another man. At that time the church in the
place felt a strong conviction that they needed more pastoral
labors performed than Brother C. could do in connection
with the school and that it was very desirable that we should
have the undivided labors of a minister in this place and
vicinity, if we hoped to secure our proportion of influence
as a denomination in the place where our school was located.
How much this consideration influenced Br. Chandler to
leave the work of teaching, I cannot say. Probably some-
what. It was Br. Chandler's decision that it was his duty
to leave the department of teaching, and not that of the
Trustees. If he erred, it was an error of judgment, not of
design.

Br. Read was appointed by your Board, I understand, at
Br. Chandler's request, to be associated with him in the
school ; I am quite sure it was not at the request of the
Trustees of the College. But as you had appointed him
and made the outfit, we regarded it our duty to remove all
the obstacles \xe could and render every facility to their use-
fulness as teachers and preachers we could. But I never ad-
mired the economy or utility of that part of the arrange-
ment. However, before the close of the second quarter,
Brother Read signified to the Trustees his determination to
leave the school at the expiration of the year, or as soon as
he could be spared from the school, with a strong conviction
that it was his duty to devote his labors exclusively to the
ministry of the Word. I have no doubt the Trustees would
have given him the school when they found Br. Chandler
must leave, but he could not for a moment entertain the
thought of teaching and we had no control of his convic-
tions of duty. He left the school by mutual consent at the
close of the third quarter.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 363

It is true the school did not give an entire support for two
men, yet I think, if Br. Chandler's health would have al-
lowed him to teach five days in the week and preach occa-
sionally on Saturday and regularly on Sabbath, that the in-
come of the school, $200 from your Board and $100 from
the church would have given him a comfortable living. You
ask what the school is worth per year. The school last
year must have been worth something like $600 or $700. It
must have averaged about 25 scholars at $6.00, $8.00 and
$10.00 per quarter. The average price was a fraction short
of $8 per quarter. I think we may safely calculate that, b}^ the
time our teacher will be ready to enter the school, the school
will be worth as much the first year as it was last, an''
from that time forward we hope for a gradual increase.

All practical business men in Oregon give their opinion
that Oregon City must become one of the few important
places in Oregon. I have no doubt but a good professional
teacher, with a small family, would be able to sustain his
family from the school, with a prospect of a gradual increase
of salary, and find himself admirably situated to exert a
general influence on the formation of the civil and religious
character of one of the most important future states in the
whole union. If we could pay the passage of Br. Post's fam-
ily out and give him the school when he arrives in the place,
we would gladly do it. But it strikes me that this is beyonJ
our power. We have but eleven or twelve feeble churches
in the territory and they together number less than 200 mem-
bers— men, women and children — gathered from all parts of
the western states, a few from the old states, but mostly
from Missouri. It is no strange thing to me that many of
them cannot see clearly what relation our school bears to
the future destinies of the cause of Christ in Oregon, in
the world. Besides, we must raise $300 or $400 the coming
summer to glaze our house and thus secure it from the
weather, and finish another room or two (and I know of
no man who will do this work but myself, and this must
be done so as not to interfere wath my appropriate duties

364 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

as your agent and missionary) and most of this must come
from men not connected with our denomination, as I inci-
dentally fall in with them to spend an hour or a night. If
the country was a little older or the churches had a few
more efficient pastors, this money might be raised. Since
Brother Chandler left the school, we have made temporary
arrangements for teaching and intend the school shall be
kept up from quarter to quarter till we learn the result of
your correspondence with Br. Post. We cannot tell Br.
Post how much he ought to sacrifice for the cause of Christ
and humanity in Oregon. But this I will suggest, that, if he
will give his whole soul to God for this work, I think the
day will come 'before he is fifty years old, if his life is
spared, that he will find himself connected with relations
which should satisfy the most aspiring mind and afford the
richest consolation in the decline of life. It is true our
beginnings are small, but the destinies of Oregon for the
next fifty years, who can calculate?

Very respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B.— Dear Brother:

Will you give me an interest in your fervent prayers that
I may do my whole duty to Him who died and intercedes
for me with the Father of us all.
Received March 19, 1853.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Jan. 1st, 1853.
To the Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.

Herein I send you my report of labor as exploring agent
for Oregon for the 3rd quarter ending December 31st, 1852.

I have visited during the quarter, Salem, the seat of gov-
ernment, and Lebanon church, attended the yearly meeting
of the French Prairie church ; visited Shiloh church, Oregon
City church, and Molalla church, and spent a Sabbath with
brethren on Butte Creek, 22 miles south of Oregon City.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 365

Travelled 435 miles to and from my appointments, labored
11 weeks during the quarter, collected $3.50 by collection
from Lebanon Church, paid for travelling expenses $2.50, for
postage 12% cents. Total $2.62%. Delivered 18 sermons.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Received March 19, 1853. Exploring Agent.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Jan. 6, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bap. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Brother :

During the late high water I spent eight or ten days in
Salem and vicinity and preached one Sabbath. As it was
the time of the session of the legislature, I availed myself
of the opportunity of making myself acquainted with the
members from the different parts of the territory and col-
lecting what facts I could relative to the extent of the farm-
ing country and the commercial, agricultural and mineral
capabilities, the number of population, the prospects of rising
towns and the number and character of Baptist members in
their respective districts, the results of which I design to
embody in a few days, or perhaps weeks, and forward to you.

Salem contains ten drygoods stores, all of which seem to
do a very fair business, a flouring mill, two saw-mills, some
four or five lawyers, three or four physicians, mechanics of
various descriptions and about five hundred souls. The
Episcopal Methodists are the prevailing denomination. Here
is their Oregon Institute^^^ j^ a flourishing condition. Here
are five Methodist Episcopal preachers,293 four of whom
hold their land claims, on one of which the town is princi-
pally situated, and the others are all adjoining.

292 The Oregon Institute was about to become Willamette University. The
latter was incorporated six days after this letter was written. — -Bancroft, Hist of Ore.
11:678.

293 Three of these Methodist ministers holding land claims were Revs. T. L.
Parrish, L. H. Judson and J. D. Boone. — G. H. Himes.

366 CORRESPONDEi\XE OF THE

The Protestant Methodists sent out a missionary^^^ last
year overland. He has fixed on this place as the place of
his operations and is gathering a small church. The Pres-
byterians are holding occasional meetings here and contem-
plate forming a church before long. We have a few Baptist
members wintering immediately adjoining the town but they
will soon move to the country, perhaps Umpqua. We have
two Baptist members living two miles north who were
formerly united with others into a small church in the town.
But the peculiar features of the land law called them all to
their land claims.

I have formerly given you my views of the importance of
occupying this place. I will repeat them and perhaps enlarge
upon them : First, it is the seat of government and, whether
that shall be removed or not, Salem cannot fail to be the
center of a large and rich agricultural portion of the Willam-
ette Valley and must have a rapid growth, situated, as it is,
on the east bank of the river about midway between the
Willamette Falls and the head of river navigation by small
river steamers. From all that I know of the people in the
place and the surrounding country, I think they are not
generally committed to any denomination, although the
Episcopal Methodists control a great share of the wealth and
a large amount of influence. Yet the field in the immediate
vicinity is very large and easy of access to a faithful, com-
mon sense, efficient preacher.

But another most important consideration is the fact that
we have three young, feeble churches located in important
farming portions of this county (Marion), ^^s all at this time
destitute of a minister. Should a Baptist minister be located
in Salem and preach but half his time in town, he might
receive a portion of his support from one or two of these
churches and exert a general influence through the county
by way of building up these and other churches which must

294 This was Rev. Daniel Bagley, afterwards prominent in the State of Wash-
ington.— G. H. Himes.

295 These were the French Paririe, Shiloh and Lebanon churches. — -Mattoon,
Bap. An. of Ore. 1:9, 16.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 367

spring up soon, should the means of grace be enjoyed and
blessed of God.

The churches in this county evince a missionary spirit
and would aid liberally in the support of a man in Salem, if
they could have his services but one Saturday and Sabbath
each month.

The people generally are as much a church going people
as is common for new countries. The influence in the
churches is generally good in the country and the members
have a fair proportion of talents and wealth. But they need
(like all churches in new countries) habitual training in
practical Christian duties. A minister, with a small family,
adapted to fill that place, should be appointed with a salary
of $700 from the Home Mission Society and he might expect
the first year to receive $200 from the churches and people
in Salem and vicinity, if he is a man with fair preaching
talents in the old States and could command respect from
the leading men in the territory and the government officers
who will be located at Salem. As I expect soon to pro
you with some views on the importance of Oregon as a
missionary field, I will only add that I conceive it of vast
importance to the cause of Christ under God that your Board,
as soon as practicable, sustain in the Willamette Valley at
least three missionaries — one at Salem, one at Oregon City
and one at Portland. If all the churches besides receive
little missionary aid, except as they receive it through the
influence and labors of these men, we probably can find men
on claims Who can attend to the wants of the country
churches for the present better than that these places go
entirely neglected from year to year.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received March 19, 1853.

368 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Oregon City, O. T., Jan. 10th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother:

I wrote Br. James S. Read about eight weeks since sug-
gesting to him the propriety of his representing to you the
importance of his field of la'bor and making timely application
for reappointment, at the same time assuring him that I
would recommend his appointment as soon as I could learn
that he had taken the requisite steps.

I have received no answer and have not learned since what
he was doing, but presume he is preaching the Word as
far as he can. Br, Read is a modest, studious, prudent,
amiable, pious young brother, in my opinion, better adapted
to take the charge of a well organized church than to per-
form the pioneer work of an entirely frontier portion of a
country. Yet he seemed determined on his course and I
hope the hand of the Lord was in the work. I conversed
freely with him relative to his peculiarities in this respect
before I gave my consent that he should go alone into a field
which seemed to me to call loudly for an offhand, business-
like pioneer. Had we anticipated with certainty that Brother
Chandler would leave Oregon City, I think we should have
thought it advisable, under all circumstances, to have kept
Br. Read with us. But you know full well that instability
is impressed in indelible marks on many of our most sanguine
hopes in a frontier country. May God in His infinite mercy
give us grace to meet every emergency like men richly
furnished from the Gospel treasury till Christ shall be hon-
ored in Oregon.

Br. Read did not preach so much as other ministers in
Oregon while he taught. This was his excuse, that he could
not preach without some previous preparation and the breth-
ren, as they became acquainted with him, appreciated his
apology. But no young man sustains a more unblemished
character.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 369

I shall soon write him and encourage him to give himself
to the work of the ministry as far as is consistent with his
support. May the wisdom of the Most High direct you and
us, is the sincere prayer of your unworthy brother,

EZRA FISHER.
Received March 19, 1853.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 12, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Brother:

The time has arrived in which it becomes necessary that
arrangements be made touching the field of my labor the
coming year. To me it is no pleasant task to solicit a re-
appointment. Yet it appears to me a matter of increased
importance that the Baptists should have a man in the
general field in Oregon who shall visit every church and
town and opening district, at least Umpqua and Rogue
rivers, Puget Sound^^s and the mouth of the Columbia and,
at each place, spend a sufficient portion of time to learn
the respective wants, and follow the openings of Providence
in preaching the Word.

Our churches are small and scattered over a large territory
and generally have preaching but one Saturday and Sabbath
each month, and some only occasionally; numbers of preach-
ers have only limited opportunities and labor through the
week for their bread. Now a visit from a minister in whom
the churches repose confidence, who will preach the Word,
administer counsel when needed, present both publicly and
privately the objects contemplated by the Home Mission
Society and inculcate the principles of Christian benevolence
and the importance of cultivating the Christian graces, would

296 For the early posts of the Hudson Bay Company on the Cowlitz and at
Nisqually, see notes 298 and 299. The first American settlements on Puget Sound
were in 1845, near Tumwater. They grew gradually during the following few years,
but suffered by the exodus to California in 1849. In 1850 a store was erected at
Olympia and commerce in American ships began. There were perhaps 100 American
citizens on the Sound at this time. In 1851 Port Townsend was laid out: in 1852-3,
Seattle. There was steady growth of population from 1850 on. — Bancroft, Hist, of
Wash., Ida. and Mont, pp. 2, 4, 16, 17, 24.

370 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

no doubt, under God, contribute more to promote the unity
and strength of the churches and the earliest establishment
of the cause of Christ in places of rising importance than
the confinement of all our ministers to a given limit, station
or two each. It is to be hoped that something may be done
the ensuing year by way of aiding the Society in sustaining
the gospel in Oregon. I am far from saying to your Board
that I am the man, and still farther from coveting the
fatigues and cares and domestic privations incident to the
faithful discharge of the appropriate duties of such a mission.
Yet, if I know myself, I desire to serve our common Lord
in the field he seems to assign me by the counsel of the
brethren who seek to understand the wants of Zion and
meet them.

Should your Board judge, in the fear of God, that the
cause of Christ in Oregon would be judiciously promoted
by giving me a re-appointment with a salary of $600 and
travelling expenses, by the grace of God, I will endeavor to
devote myself to thait ministry, I say $600, not because I
suppose that sum will cover my family expenses, but because
I think with that and the means saved by the services of
the family and rigid economy we can live, by occasional
mortifications and privations such as were common to our
blessed Master and immediate followers and always have
been to the pioneers in the blessed cause.

(No signature).
Received March 19, 1853.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 12, 1853.
To the Executive Board of the Am. Bap. Home Mission

Society :

The Subscriber desires reappointment as exploring agent
of the American Baptist Home Mission Society for Oregon
Territory for one year to commence on the first day of April,
1853. The total amount of my salary necessary for my
support while exclusively devoted to the labor of said agency
is $1000 per annum ; the least amount that will suffice from

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 371

the Society in addition to the services performed by my
family is $600 per annum and traveling expenses. Should
the Board comply with this request I engage to devote
myself wholly to the appropriate duties of the agency in
accordance with their instructions.

N. B. — It will be desirable that I should raise $300 or
$400, sufficient to protect our school building from great
exposure to the weather and ceil and seat one room, and
this, it is thought, may be better done by me, without
seriously interfering with the duties of the agency, than in
any other way. I would not ask this but from the scarcity
of laborers in the field and the direct influence the accom-
plishment of this work will have on the public mind in
Oregon and consequently upon the cause of missions in
and out of our churches.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

This is to certify that I fully accord with the above request
in every particular except the amount asked for. $600 here
is no better than $200 in any place that I have lived in.

GEO. C. CHANDLER.

I certify that I regard Brother E. Fisher as the best
minister that we have in this territory for an exploring
agent and recommend him as such. The amount that he
asks for his services is small.

HEZEKIAH JOHNSON.

Oregon City, Oregon, Jan. 17, 1853.
Dear Br. Hill:

I have made inquiries respecting the expenses of the
journey to Pugets Sound from Colonel Eby,^^'' the member
of the legislature from Whitby's Island, and find that such
a tour as would enable me to reach the principal settlements

297 This was I. N. Ebey. He came to Oregon in 1848, and after a visit to Cali-
fornia, in 1850, settled on Puget Sound and became prominent in the community.
He was murdered by Indians in 1857. — Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Ida. and Mont.,
pp. 15, 29, 137.

Whidbey Island was first settled in 1848. Ebey settled there in 1850.— Ibid, p. 10.

372 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

on the Sound would cost me about six or eight weeks and
about ^75 or $100. The route is first by steam to the mouth
of the Cowletz [CowHtz], thence up that stream to the
Hudson Bay Company's post on the Cowletz,298 at this place
hire a horse to Nesqualy [Nisqually],^^^ there leave my
horse and hire a crew of Indians and canoe to take me to
the various places rising up along the Sound, a distance of
80 or 100 miles, and return the same way. From the best
information I can obtain, there are from 2500 to 3000 souls in
the whole country north of the Columbia River (some
estimate the population at 5000) who have never been visited
by a Baptist minister. A few of these are said to be respect-
able Baptist members'. This number will doubtless be
monthly increased. The question I wish to propound is,
Will your Board justify the expenditure of $100 in traveling
expenses to have an agent visit that important portion of
the Territory next summer? Before you answer this ques-
tion I hope to be able to give you the best geographical
description of the country I have been able to glean from
intelligent residents on the Sound.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received March 19, 1853.

Oregon City, O. T., Jan. 20th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother:

Yours of Dec. 1st, 1852, has just come to hand and was
read with deep interest. I have named at two several times
in my quarterly reports the amount which I have collected

298 The first Hudson Bay Company's fort on the Cowlitz was one of its old
stations, and the company had a large farm there. The Jesuits settled there in 1838.
— Bancroft, Hist, of N. W. Coast, 11:613. The post was in the vicinity of the pres-
ent Toledo.

299 Fort Nisqually, of the Hudson Bay Company, was established in 1833, four
or five miles northeast of the Nisqually River. The company had a large sheep and
cattle farm there. It was a center of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, an
organization closely allied to the Hudson Ray Company, and, was the depot for
curing meat and loading vessels for Russian-American posts. — Bancroft, Hist of N.
W. Coast, 11:525, 614.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. Z7Z

for the Oregon City College, not because I regarded this a
part of my direct duties I owed to the Home Mission
Society, but because I had reason to suppose it would be a
matter of gratification to the Board to learn that the cause
of education was not neglected with the Baptists in Oregon.
A few of the many reasons for the course I have pursued
I beg leave to name in this. In Aug. of '49, on my return
from California, I found a letter from you, pressing upon
me the importance of the Baptists securing a suitable amount
of land at some favorable point and commencing a school
which should eventually take its place among the colleges
of the land. I acted accordingly. It was finally judged
expedient to locate that school at Oregon City. My interests
must be identified with the school till a suitable teacher
could be found. In this work I think I do not exaggerate
when I say that I deliberately sacrificed in dollars and cents
more than half the little property I then had, most of which
I had dug with my own hands out of the California sandbars
and gulches in the space of eight weeks. I knew the Board,
in view of all the circumstances, approved of my teaching,
preaching Saturdays and Sabbaths and collecting funds when-
ever opportunities presented ; not in the abstract, but from
necessity, just as the farmer in a new country makes his
sled and his plough and repairs his clock. I understand, too,
that your Board had somewhat departed from their ordinary
course by appointing for said school two teachers and
preachers in the same men, paying for* their outfit and sus-
taining them in part in this two-fold relation. I looked upon
this, under the circumstances, as the best thing that could
be done, although I regretted the necessity of giving one
man the work of two or three. Upon entering upon the
work of exploring agent I did contemplate doing something
for the school and I think I wrote you on that subject, and
I had the impression that I received from you in substance
this reply, that the Board could not consent that their agents
should enter into the services of any other society so as to
interfere with their official duties as agents. But, upon

374 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

referring to your letters, I find nothing on that subject
except the instructions given in connection with the two
commissions, the one in Nov. '51 and the other in Apr. '52.
I understood those instructions would justify me in co-
operating with any benevolent society, whenever it could be
done without sacrificing the interests of the Baptist Home
Mission Soc.

In this work which I have performed I have studiously
avoided encroaching upon the time and duties of every de-
partment of my agency. Probably in doing this work I have
not consumed the amount of two days' time, when I could
have done anything for the Mission Society. Almost every
man in Oregon had formerly known me as identified with
the school, and, while in that relation, I always carried our
building subscription paper in my pocket and, whenever I
found a friend of education, I introduced our building enter-
prise and solicited his aid. Thus I have secured many sub-
scriptions in various parts of Oregon. Numbers of these
were unpaid when I entered upon the work of exploring
agent. At that time we had about $4000 invested in the
house. The house wais enclosed, except the doors and win-
dows— not one of them made. Our lumber was on hand for
flooring and ceiling in part. Our school was still in a small
Baptist meeting house, thus rendering the house unfit for
a place of worship. Br. Johnson was sick, Br. Chandler
confined to the school and no man to engage in collecting
funds; all said that I could do something without interfering
with my official duties and I must do what I could or the
work would stop and we as a denomination would suffer
public reproach. With all these difficulties to meet, what
could I do in the fear of God other than to pursue the work
by littles, without interfering with the appropriate duties
of my mission? I know it is not my business to over-reach
the instructions, when I have sold my time, unless I am
permitted to exercise some discretionary power. Yet it is
my deliberate conviction that the cause of Home Missions
has been aided indirectly instead of retarded in the work

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 375

I have performed for the school. I have sought my time
when travelling on steamers, or spending the night with
friends, to introduce this subject as incidental business, thus
adding variety and giving importance to my work rather
than seriously impeding it. I have informed you in another
letter that by far the greater part of the funds collected
for the school building has been from men not directly mem-
bers of Baptist churches, whose sympathies become enlisted
for the Baptists somewhat in proportion as they find them
engaged in promoting the great interests of humanity. I
have not entered upon this work from pecuniary considera-
tions, nor from any inclination to covet the thankless drudg-
ery of begging as some are pleased to term it. But it has
been because I could not help it while all these and many
kindred considerations were pressing upon me and sometimes
preying upon my spirits.

I have just written your Board requesting" a reappoint-
ment, with privilege of performing a little more of the same
kind of work, sincerely hoping when that is done this part
of the cause of education may rest a few years. I know not
what kind of a reception the educational part of the request
will meet in the Board, but I believe they are all good men
and wise and, if they could be here and see things as they
are, they would to a man judge of this matter as we do here.
I sincerely hope the Board will weigh this subject well and
allow me to do this work in connection with the work of
exploring agent, so as not to interfere with my official
duties. I will try to the utmost of my ability to prevent
interference. I seriously fear that the work must remain
undone unless it is done this way by me. If another man
could be found here to do it, I would sincerely rejoice,
probably more than you all.

Yours with sincere esteem,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — Cannot Br. Post's passage out in the mail steamer
be secured free? When Mr. Atkinson returned to the
States to solicit funds for liquidating the debts of the female

376 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

seminary building in this place his passage was secured free
or nearly so. We have built our house without asking help
from the churches at home and we ask for a man to be sent
to bless Oregon in sustaining the teaching department of a
public school of much greater moment than a county female
school. Will our suit be denied by men making money by
the hundred thousands? EZRA FISHER.

Received March 19, 1853.

Oregon City, O. T., Feb. 3d, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother :

I noticed an article in the Christian Chronicle, under
the editorial head, with the title "A Field of Promise,"
in which some extraordinary assertions were made, such
as the following: "Oregon, California) and New Mexico are
all thrown into our hands inviting us to send into that vast
region the missionary, the school teacher and the pious lay-
man to preach and labor for God and His church ; there are
our mountains and rivers of gold and to them our Eastern
population are directing their course and pouring in b\-
multitudes ; in a very few years this newly acquired territory
may accommodate a population as large as that which the
whole country now sustains ; there will be the wealth and
the people and thence will emanate our laws and the great
controlling influence."

Now, dear brother, these are certainly startling assertions
and seem to come from a very respectable source. Were I
prepared to believe all this, how should I as a missionary
feel, in view of my responsibility, being one of the fc
Baptist ministers in all this region so full of promise, and
everywhere so richly endowed with schools of vice? And
how should I tremble under the vastness of the responsibility
imposed upon not more than eight or ten missionaries who
give themselves wholly to the ministry in this field of so
much promise? It must be that these assertions are not

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 377

true or that our old and wealthy churches have not the map
of the field before them, enquiring, like Daniel, after the
time and place of the enlargement of Christ's kingdom, or
we should see more self-denying soldiers of the Cross direct-
ing their course to this field. I have thought, if half of these
statements were believed to be true in the able and numerous
churches, they would gird themselves for this work and
quadruple their efforts to give the bread of life to the feeble
rising interests everywhere struggling for existence in the
settlements as they are rapidly forming through this fie ■
of promise. I propose giving in these sheets some geographi-
cal facts relative to the extent of that portion of the field
embraced in Oregon, which must be crowded with immortal
beings in the short space of twenty-five or thirty years.
Oregon includes seven degrees of latitude, eight hundred
miles of seaboard, with bays and harbors every sixty miles
and sometimes more contiguous, and more than fifteen
degrees of longitude, making an area of somewhat more than
364,000 square miles.^°° After deducting one-third for waste
land, we have then a territory large enough for five states
as large as New York or 32 as large as Massachusetts. It has
formerly been supposed that the Willamette Valley com-
prised almost all the desirable resources of Oregon which
were attractive to the immigrant seeking a home for himself
and family west of the Rocky Mountains. But instead of
this being the fact, it is becoming a matter of doubt by our
best informed, practical men whether this valley will even
hold the first place in point of importance with various
divisions now being occupied by the enterprise and daring of
the hardy, adventurous pioneers of the Pacific Coast. This
valley, however, from the extreme south, where the prairies
begin to open out along the principal streams and their
tributaries, to the junction of the main river with the
Columbia, is about 170 miles [in length] and varies in
breadth from 20 to 65 miles ; and even far beyond this, up

300 The Oregon of this time, of course, consisted of all the territory west of
the Rocky Mountains between the parallels of latitude 42 and 49 degrees. The area
is overstated.

378 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

the sides of the mountains, large bodies of arable lands are
found which would be sought with great eagerness, if they
lay unoccupied in the Green Mountains, with the mildness
of this climate and fertility of its soil. Aside from this, the
inexhaustible water power and the unexplored mineral re-
sources of its mountains and its agricultural capabilities
equal, if not exceed, that of the same number of square miles
of the most productive parts of Illinois or Missouri. Leaving
this valley, the traveler passes over a transverse ridge of
mountains eight miles and enters the Umpqua Valley. It is
said that a pass has been discovered, but one or two miles
east of the road, sufficiently level to lay a railroad track
without grading.301 The Umpqua Valley is about 75 miles
from north to south and from 15 to 40 from east to west
and forms a succession of high hills covered with grass and
scattering oaks, and valleys, ranging from a few rods to
three or four miles in breadth, with a rich deep soil, which
extends to the tops of the highest hills. This country lies
contiguous to the gold mines and is settling with astonishing
rapidity. Below the Coast Range, on the river bearing the
name of the valley above, a commercial town is springing up
by the name of Scottsburg.^^^ j^ all this country there is
but one Baptist and one Methodist minister. As the traveler
proceeds south from this valley he passes through a narrow
defile of another transverse range of mountains ten or twelve
miles. This pass is called the Canon (pronounced kenyon)3°^
and opens into the Rogue River Valley. This is surrounded
by some of the richest gold diggings in the whole gold
region of California and Oregon, and is said to contain nearly
as much farming land as the Umpqua Valley. In this valley
already 2000 or 3000 souls have taken up their residence;
among this number two or three families of the first respect-
ability are known to be Baptists. Here the Methodists have
established a circuit occupied by two travelling preachers.

301 This is probably the pass now followed by the Southern Pacific.

302 See note 277.

303 This is the present Cow Creek Canon.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 379

Two years ago not a white man was found in all this valley.
From this to the California line is a mining country, inter-
spersed with some good land.

Along the coast, south of the Columbia and west of the
Coast Range, are numerous streams emptying into the ocean,
on several of which are fine bodies of land, large enough to
form small counties, generally lying about fine bays whose
entrances are sufficiently large to admit brigs and schooners
to enter with safety. These streams furnish a vast amount
of water power and are skirted with immense forests of the
best fir and spruce in Oregon. At the mouths of these
streams settlements are being made such as Port Orford,
the mouth of the Umpqua and Tillamook. But not a single
gospel minister has ever visited one of these places since
their settlement.

Let us now take a brief view of that portion of country
formerly embraced in Oregon situated north of the Columbia
and west of the Cascade Mountains. This territory extends
more than 200 miles from the Columbia to our northern
boundary and about 140 from the Pacific to the summit of
the Cascade ridge, having about 300 miles of seacoast, with
three fine harbors and a small land sea 180 miles in length,
with an almost endless number of harbors entirely secure
from storm. And then the majestic Columbia, whose tides
daily ebb and flow to the Cascade falls, rolls her deep, broad
column of water along the southern border.

I know of no state in the union which combines within
its own limits so many sources of wealth. Timber of an
excellent quality and in vast quantities abounds oh Puget
Sound, along the coast and on the Columbia, and water
power is nowhere wanting to drive the machinery to cut it
into lumber. Along the Chehalis and south and east from
the Sound, the country opens into extensive prairies, the
northern portion of which the white man has not yet
explored. The Sound abounds with islands, among which
Whitby's is said to be 60 miles in length and on an average

380 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

seven in breadth, with a soil unsurpassed in fertility. The
people residing in this division give it as their conviction
that the soil as a whole is equal, if not superior, to that of
the Willamette Valley. Colonel Eby, the member of the
legislature from Thurston County, informs me that two
navigable rivers (the Duwamish-'^* and the Snohomish)
empty into the Sound from the southeast and flow through
the extensive prairies west of the Cascade Mountains. Be-
tween the Sound and the ocean much of the land is good,
but prairies are said to be small. This county, which scarce-
ly numbered 300 souls in 1850, except the government troops,
contains at this time a population estimated from 3000 to
5000, and the present session of the legislature has passed
bills to organize four new counties, making in all seven
counties in this new portion of Oregon.^^^ In this district
not less than ten or twelve towns of importance will soon
be the result of the enterprise of the present citizens. Saw-
mills are being put in requisition, and already a considerable
trade in lumber is carried on from the Sound and the Colum-
bia. One Methodist minister^^^ affords all the evangelical
preaching the pioneers of this whole district receive. He
entered this vast field but last December.

As we leave this district and pass through the Cascade
Mountains by the uninterrupted channel of the Columbia,
sufficiently deep at all seasons to float the largest class of
river steamers, we arrive at the Dalles east of the Cascade
Mountains. This may be said to be the head of steam
navigation of this great river. Here we enter a region of
country which has been generally described as altogether
unfit for settlement by civilized man. But instead of this
being one vast plain of sands covered with little else but
sedge and artemesia, that portion of the country lying be-
tween the Cascade and the Blue mountains affords one of

304 This was the Devamish or White River.

305 These seven counties were: Lewis, organized by the legislature of 1845-6;
Clarke; Thurston, organized by the legislature of 1851-2; Jeflferson ; Pierce; King
and Island.

306 Rev. John F. DeVore was formally transferred from the Rock River Con-
ference to the Oregon Conference in 1853, and was the apostle of Methodism to
Puget Sound. — Hines, Missionary Hist, of the Pac. N, W., p. 418.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 381

the finest grazing countries in North America, with a soil
capable of producing all the products raised in the northern
and middle states in great profusion. The only serious
obstacle to the speedy settlement of all this region of country
is the scarcity of timber in the more southern and eastern
portions and, in some parts, scarcity of water. Yet large
portions of the north and west of this region are represented
as possessing both of these advantages.

That portion of this division lying north of the Colum.V'
and east of the Cascade range is represented by those who
have travelled through it as a most desirable region, to
which immigrants will soon be attracted in crowds. The
Rev, Mr. Waller^°'' who resided some eight years at the
Dalles represents this section of the country as one hundred
miles long and varying from 15 to 50 miles in breadth and
embracing large bottoms, with timber crowning the hills
and mountain sides in abundance, also skirting the streams.
The Rev. Mr. Parrish,^^^ one of the Indian agents, travelled
over a portion of this region in May and June of 1850. By
his journals, he travelled one hundred and fifty miles in a
course first northeast and then northwest. He says he
passed 17 mill streams and, at the end of his journey, the
plain appeared so broad that he could see no appearances
of mountains as far as the eye could stretch its vision. He
gives it as his opinion that this is a larger body of land and
more productive than the Willamette Valley. Others who
have travelled through this region give a similar description
of the country. Some represent it 100 miles wide in the
broadest place; others represent it 150 miles across in
every direction.

A settlement is now being formed at the Dalles'^^^ and

307 Rev. Alvan F. Waller came to Oregon as a member of the Methodist Mis-
sion in 1840. — Bancroft, Hist of Ore. I : 177, 190.

308 Rev. Josiah L. Parrish came to Oregon in 1840 under the Methodist Mission.
—Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:177; 11:213.

309 The Dalles was occupied as a mission station by the Methodists in 1838.
— Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:162. It was transferred to the American Board in 1847.
The place was abandoned after the Cayuse war in 1847-8, and only one or two
persons lived there until the establishment of the government military post in 1850.
A trading post was then soon established and a town began to grow up.— Ibid,
11:91, 252, 289, 290. See also the letter of Jan. 15, 1855.

382 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

another is contemplated on the Umatilla the next summer,
and the time is near when flourishing states will spring into
existence above the Cascade Mountains on the waters of
the Columbia and Snake rivers and their tributaries. The
missionaries who were stationed among the Nez Perces and
Flathead Indians^^° represent much of the land occupied by
those tribes as exceedingly productive in grasses, small
grains, Indian corn and all the varieties of vegetables grown
in New York and New Jersey, while it possesses a mildness
and salubrity of climate nowhere else enjoyed in North
America. The mineral resources of this country are yet
unexplored, yet gold has been washed from the sands of the
rivers, 60 or 70 miles north of the Columbia, which indicates
the probability that the precious metals, in greater or less
quantities, lie buried in the sides of all the surrounding
mountains.

Now with all these facts spread out before us, shall not
the spirit of immigration to the Pacific Coast pervading the
whole country east of the Rocky Mountains be regarded as
the opening of God's providence to give the commerce of
Asia and the Pacific Isles into the hands of that nation
which has displayed the banner of liberty to the nations of
the earth and which is first of all nations in giving the Bible
and the devoted missionary to Jew and Gentile sunk in
degradation and reduced to a stupidity of which the heathen
gods are too fit an illustration ? I leave others to tell the
growing numbers which crowd every steamer and clipper
ship up from California. It is sufficient for me to say that
Oregon now numbers between 30.000 and 40,000 American
citizens and it is a moderate estimate to predict that she
will double her population every two years for the next
quarter of a century. ^^i

Who then will give the bread of life to the thousands

310 These were the missionaries of the American Board in the present north-
eastern Oregon, southeastern Washington and northern Idaho.

311 This prediction was hardly fulfilled. The Federal census gave Oregon in
1850 a population of 13,294; in 1860 it gave Oregon and Washington, which then
included part of Idaho, 64,000, and in 1870 it gave the three states and territories
130,000.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 383

hastening to our borders? Who are to build our school-
houses and put our rising generations under the tuition of
pious, efficient teachers instead of leaving them to the sport
of all the baser passions of the human soul, while schools
of vice are everywhere spreading wide their desolating, de-
basing influence over the unsuspecting and unguarded
youthful mind? To me it seems just as important that the
missionary school teacher should accompany the home mis-
sionary to the frontier settlements of all our new territories
as that the foreign missionary should be attended with
such auxiliaries. I have felt for years that the right arm
of the Home Mission Society is measurably palsied by at-
tempting to separate these essential constituents. If the
church is commissioned to go and teach all nations, why
should not the youthful mind be imbued with the principles
of the gospel in all its acquisitions? I have no doubt our
brethren at home who contribute liberally to sustain the
missionary in these new and opening fields desire and pray
that this cause may want none of the agencies necessary to
crown the efforts with complete success. Why then should
not the Home Mission Society assume the responsibility
at once of seeing at least one school sustained by efficient,
pious teachers in each of the territories on the coast,
in direct connection with the missionaries there laboring,
and that school grow with the growth of that territory and
be so conducted as to meet the educational wants of our
denomination there? I believe that such an organization
under God would add fifty or one hundred per cent to the
efficiency and permanency of the Home Mission work on
the Pacific shores. No doubt our field is one of great
promise, and, being one of so much promise, it demands
laborers adapted to its culture, and will soon justify the
outlays. May God direct in devising and executing plans
precisely adapted to accomplish most harmoniously and
efficiently His heaven born purpose so wonderfully opening
in this field for the lalbor and faith and patience of the

384 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

American churches. Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received IMarch 29, 1853.

Oregon City, O. Ter., March 16, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bapt. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother:

Yours and Br. Whitehead's bearing date Jan. 14, together
with an invoice of goods and bill of lading, were received by
the last mail. I did not design to recommend Br. Read for
an appointment by the Board of the Home Mission Society
till he had made an application in form according to direc-
tions in the annual report. But as our field is so wide and
our mails so irregular, I thought best to have the way open
so that your Board might be prepared to act understand-
ingly, should he make an application for reappointment in
the Umpqua in due form and give your Board necessary
intelligence respecting the field.

Br. Read has left the Umpqua and I am informed he is at
Jacksonville, a flourishing mining town in Rogue River
Valley. There are two or three Baptist families of his
acquaintance in the vicinity of Jacksonville, and one or more
others have moved there this spring. I think that he was
making an effort to build a Baptist meeting house in Jack-
sonville in Dec. Should he succeed in the attempt (and God
grant that he may), he will undoubtedly find it his duty to
make that his field of labor, I trust, for coming years. The
church in this place have so much confidence in Br. Read
that they unanimously voted to invite him to return and
take charge of the church as pastor before they knew he
had left the Umpqua. But now they have little hope that
he will accept their invitation. I have, in another letter,
given you my views respecting Br. Read's talents and
character as a minister. I presume his extreme modesty,
blended with his spirit of independence, will not prompt him
to ask of your Board a reappointment till I either see him

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 385

or receive some communication from him by letter. By
this move of Br. Read, the whole of Umpqua Valley is left
without a Baptist minister of any description. I trust,
however, that a self-sustaining minister at least will find
his way into the valley and gather up the scattered members
into a church,-'^" if nothing more efficient can be done for
that most inviting field.

SANTIAM CHURCH

I visited this church and attended their yearly meeting,
commencing Friday before the second Saturday in February,
which continued four days. Fifteen miles before I reached
the place, my horse took fright and dashed me to the ground
with such violence that, falling upon my umbrella, I had six
ribs fractured, two in two places each. I howevei; proceeded
the next day and by walking my horse was able to ride to
the place ; preached four sermons the three following days,
but it was attended with much pain in the flesh. Meeting
was well attended, church seemed much revived and a few
persons manifested unusual concern for their soul's salvation.
Br. Stevens, •'^•' now -near Marysville, was present. Br.
Cheadle is pastor of the church. This church has passed
through a long series of trials, but seems to be in a healthy
and promising condition. I should have taken up a collec-
tion in favor of the Home Mission Society but for the fact
that the church felt bound to relieve the wants of Br.
Stevens. On Sabbath, after preaching, Br. Cheadle made
known the wants of Br. Stevens and a collection of $48.50
was taken up in his favor.

WEST UNION CHURCH

Last Saturday and Sabbath I spent with the West Union
Church, 27 miles west of this place near the seat of justice
for Washington County. Here I met Br. Weston,^^* who
is preaching to the church every Sabbath. He reached
Oregon last Nov. extremely poor, having left his wife above

312 See note 328.

313 See note 284.

314 Rev. Rodolphus Weston was pastor until 1854. He was a missionary of
the Willamette Association in 1859. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1 :4, 148.

386 CORRESPONDENCE OS THE

the Cascade Mountains with a travelling companion till
he could come into the Willamette Valley and raise means
to bring his family down. The West Union Church helped
him to $100, sent him back for his family, have fixed him
on a claim of 320 acres of land near the place of meeting
and one brother has furnished him his breadstuff and
vegetables ever since. This church are engaged in building
a frame meeting house, 30 feet by 40, with 13 feet posts,
the present year. Last Saturday they invited Br. Weston to
become their pastor and will probably pay him about $300.
The question of the expediency of their applying to the
Home Mission Soc. for aid was raised. A leading brother
from the other church in the Tualatin plains^^^ being present,
I advised that the two churches should unite and support
Br. Weston, and, through that means, leave your Board to
appropriate the amount which would be asked for Br.
Weston to sustain a preacher at Portland. The subject
seemed to strike them favorably. I hope these churches will
take up and sustain Br. W. and think, should you send the
right sort of a man to Portland, I can raise $50 from these
two churches the first year for his support.

After preaching on Sab., I presented in brief the claims
of the Home Mission Soc. and took up a collection of $9.00.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received April 29, 1853.

Oregon City, March 17, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

I wrote you about six weeks since, giving the reasons of
Br. Chandler's removal from this place as near as I could.
Be assured we have no designs to keep the affairs of the
school a secret. I feel that it has been a serious misfortune

315 This was the West Tualatin (Forest Grove) Baptist church, which was
organized May 22, 1852.— Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:11.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 387

to the school that Br. Chandler left it. The two last quarters
the school has been in the hands of men interested in making
a living for themselves, who went into the school till they
could find a more lucrative employment. The school has
not numbered more than fifteen, and in its most prosperous
condition eighteen scholars. The second man, a graduate of
Brown's University, left the school in the middle of the
term. Had he continued, he would have lost all his school.
We have now put the school into the hands of Professor
Shattuck,^^^ the principal of the female seminary of this
place, and think we shall make no more changes till we can
get a man to take charge of the school and identify his
interests with the prosperity of it. The school has just
opened and scholars are beginning to return, but it will
require at least a quarter to bring the school to 25. Business
is beginning to increase in town and I have no doubt but
by next winter the school will pay a main a fair living. We
need just such a man as you represent Br. Post to be and,
were he here, he would, in his appropriate work, do more
for the general influence of the Bap. cause than any one
minister can while we leave the school in other hands. I
wish with all my 'heart I could say to Br. Post, Come out
and I will pay the passage for you and family and ensure
you a salary of $1500 the first year. But I am poor in
available means and cannot do anything till after the meeting
of the Association in June. Then we hope to have our
educational interest canvassed and it may be that we can
secure a denominational pledge. I dare not hope for great
things, but I will try and do what I can, by God's grace,
for this as well as for every other interest connected with
the advancement of the cause of Christ and humanity in
Oregon. I sometimes almost wish I could be permitted to
plead the cause of education and religion in Oregon before a
thousand of our wealthy brethren in our old churches and.
heaven approving, I would have the money to send a teacher

316 This was K. D. Shattuck, a native of Vermont, and a graduate of the
University of Vermont, who was later prominent as a judge, and as a member of
the Republican party. — Hist, of Portland, ed. by H. W. Scott, p. 514.

388 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

to Oregon and furnish him his tools to do his work to the
credit of the cause of Christ in Oregon. But duty calls me
to labor on here under all the embarrassments incident to a
new country, and I will try and do it as to Christ.

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — Some of our brethren here want me to obtain
permission to return to the States and present the claims of
Oregon as a missionary field and at the same time do what
I can for our school. But I have no desire on this subject
aside from duty. Oregon is my home and I expect to do
what little I do in the cause of Christ principally for this
field. I have no curiosity to gratify and wish not to multiply
labors to no effect.

E. FISHER.
Received April 29, 1853.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Apr. 1, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Herein I send you my report of labor as general itinerant
under the appointment of the Home Mission Society for the
fourth quarter ending Mar. 31, 1853. I have labored 13
weeks this quarter; preached 19 sermons, delivered two lec-
tures to the Sabbath school in Oregon City, attended two
prayer meetings and four covenant meetings, visited relig-
iously 49 families and individuals, visited one common
school, traveled to and from my appointments 325 miles.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.

N. B. — But one Sabbath school is regularly sustained
through the year in all the Baptist churches in Oregon. The
church at Oregon City is temporarily supplied by Elders
Chandler and Johnson. When at home I supply the place
part or all the day. ^ E. FISHER.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 389

P. S. (Private) — The churches of the association which
were opposed to benevolent operations seem more impressed
with the conviction that the ministry at home must be sus-
tained or the churches must decline and give place to other
denominations who will sustain and have a devoted ministry.
* * * E. FISHER.

Received May 9, 1853.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Apr. 1, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Br.:

Herein I send you my report of labor as exploring agent
under the appointment of the Home Mission Society for the
4th quarter ending March 31st, 1853. During the quarter
I have visited Portland and Milwaukie, towns on the Wil-
lamette, and Santiam, French Prairie, West Union and
Yam Hill churches. Traveled to and from my appointments
325 miles; labored 13 weeks during the quarter; collected
$9.00 cash by a collection taken up in the West Union
Church. Paid $4.00 for travelling expenses, 25 cents postage.
Preached 19 sermons and addressed the Sabbath school
in Oregon City twice and taught the Bible class when I
have been at home on the Sabbath.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., May 13th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Br. Hill:

Yours of March 19th was received by last mail. I will
now answer in brief the interrogations respecting our school,
some of which I think I anticipated in one of my last. Br.
Chandler holds no relation to the Oregon City College other

390 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

than any other Baptist minister in the territory, except that
he is deeply interested in the cause of education and rehgion
in Oregon. He even declined becoming a member of the
Board of Trustees while he taught and since he left the
school the Board has had no annual meeting.

We have no president of the school. I am president of
the Board of Trustees. The school is in a feeble state of
operation under the care of Mr. Shattuck, the principal of
the county female seminary located at this place. He teaches
the large boys and has an assistant who teaches the small
boys and geography, etc. The school at present does not
meet the wants of the community. But we see no way of
doing better than to let it be in Mr. Shattuck's hands one
quarter more. Brs. Johnson and Chandler have both request-
ed me to go into the school again, but I cannot think of
making teaching my business for life and, then, this season
is a time which demands my services with the churches and
the new portions of the territory to aid as far as possible in
giving a healthy direction to the partially organized and
the unorganized interests in our rapidly increasing popula-
tion. We would be glad to make no more changes in the
school till we can get a permanent teacher who will identify
himself with the school. But we cannot see the school
entirely run down or, what is worse, let it slide out of our
hands into others, which may be the case unless we keep a
good man teacher in the school. We cannot, as a Board,
pledge a certain definite salary to a teacher. We do not
know how to do this while a very few men in the denomina-
tion will assume responsibilities. Brs. Johnson, Chand'er
and myself will have to meet most of the responsibilities,
should the effort prove a failure, and we are all poor and
have sacrificed hundreds of dollars each to keep the school
alive. We however intend to lay the whole business of the
school before the friends of education next month at the
annual meeting of the Association and see what we can do
by way of bringing the school more immediately under the
control of the denomination. We now want to commit the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 391

denomination more directly to the cause of the school. More
than two-thirds of the funds which have been raised for the
school have been raised out of the denomination. The
school must languish, or its whole prosperity must rest on
a very few men of energy, till the Baptists of Oregon become
committed to the cause. We are amply able to carry on
the work, if we can call out the surplus means, but we are
a new people and not much accustomed to systematic work
and systematic responsibility. Our town has received a
new impulse in business this spring and will probably in-
crease in numbers and in wealth gradually from this time.
We shall have four or five wholesale houses in the place in
four or five weeks and about fifteen retail drygoods stores,
and all the relative branches of business are fast moving
forward, such as steamboat building, foundries, tinners',
smiths', carpenters', millers', bakers', butchers', watch
makers', lawyers', clerks', physicians', etc. I wish you would
still have the goodness to look out for a teacher. I have no
doubt but I could support my family by the school the first
year, should the Lord direct my labor to that employment,
and now is the time for us to commence, with the present
permanent increase of population in our towns.

I have been travelling through the churches the last five
weeks and shall write you on the subject of the state of the
churches by the next mail.

Very respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received June 22, 1853.

Oregon City, O. Ter., June 13th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. York.
Dear Br. :

Yours of March 19th was received, as you will learn before
the receipt of this ; also yours bearing date April 2d, and I
now haste to answer definitely some enquiries in that, before
giving you an outline of my labor the past six or eight

392 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

weeks, hoping however to have them both ready before the
departure of the next mail. While I cherish a high regard
for the piety and talents of Br. Chandler, as your agent I
will state to you confidentially that I regard Brother Chand-
ler's removal from the school an unfortunate one both for
himself as a public man and for the school. Yet there is
an apology. Brs. Johnson and Chandler have not always
had the best understanding. Brother Johnson, from the
earliest public labors of Br. Chandler, did not regard him
as the man either for the care of the church or the school.
Although Br. Johnson was passive and too wise to interfere,
yet Chandler soon found him rather cool and reserved. Br.
Chandler had not long been in the place before he expressed
a desire to settle permanently, if he continued in the church
and in connection with the school after the first year. This
doctrine did not meet with a very cordial reception with
Br. Johnson. I assured Br. C. that it was desirable that our
situations be made as permanent as the nature of the case
would admit ; yet permanency could only be obtained by
securing the confidence of our employers, whether we were
employed yearly or during life. No man laboring for the
honour of the cause of Christ would wish to become burden-
some to his friends and the public mind would always judge
of the usefulness of a man's labors. In the end Br. Chandler
became convinced that he could not live happily as the pastor
of the church and president of the school ... he also
learned that he could not receive such an appropriation
from your Board as would sustain his family in town, and I
think he became too precipitate in selecting him a home.
I have done what I could, without too much interference,
to induce him to go to Marysville and visit that church, if
he must leave Oregon City for a claim. But he saw differ-
ently. The public mind is in a great measure ignorant of
the causes that operated on Br. Chandler's mind to induce
him to the removal. I have no doubt from all I hear that
the public mind regards Br. Chandler as erring in judgment
in leaving the school and Oregon City. In confidence, I

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 393

think Br. Chandler never intended to take upon himself all
the labor of teaching the small scholars, and he found the
school would not sustain two teachers. Br. Chandler's
present position is about fourteen miles south of Oregon
City in a settlement where most of the community cannot
thrive in business as the farming community will generally
in a prairie country. He cannot leave his claim now for
more than three years, without sacrificing almost all he
has in this world, and he feels strongly disposed to labor
near home and raise up a religious community around him.
He means to be a faithful minister of Christ, labors hard
with his hands through the week, preaches every Sabbath,
and, what is better, I think he is growing in some of the
essential Christian graces. But I deeply regret that his
influence must be shut up in a corner for the present. I
have two or three times asked him if he would not receive
an appointment at Salem, or at this place, spend three or
four days each week in town as pastor and do his studying
at home, but he seems at present not inclined to receive any
appointment from the Board, unless he can receive an
amount that, in his estimation, is about equivalent to the
value of his labor. I have now stated the case as nearly
as I can, without going into details, and trust your Board
will not use this communication either to the detriment of
Br. Chandler or Br. Johnson. They are both valuable, tried
Baptist ministers. Br. Chandler would succeed well at
Salem or Oregon City, with the above named exception,
and also in Marysville, that place being again suddenly
vacated by the removal of Br. Stevens to the Umpqua
Valley. By this removal that young church is left in a bad
condition in a critical period of their history. But you must
send an efficient, engaging preacher to Portland, if you can
find the man. He should be a man of capacity, to meet
the emergencies of building up a church in a rising city.
Br. Read, as you have learned before this, was invited last
fall to take the pastoral care of this church (Oregon City).
He is now in the place and will probably give the church

394 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

his answer this week, which will be to decline the invitation.
He has spent the winter in Rogue River Valley near Jack-
sonville, the principal mining town on the waters of that
river; has collected a small church-'^'' of twelve members,
five of whom are efficient working brethren of the right
stamp. That church have invited him to become their
pastor. They propose to pay him $250 and hope to add $50
more during the year. They also propose to build a house
of worship in the town the present year, if he will settle
with them. The Methodist church sustained two ministers
in that valley last fall and winter, but have left the field
and, should Br. Read leave, that valley with about 10,000
souls would be without a gospel minister of any kind.
I dare not advise Br. Read to leave that field, although he
would be acceptable here. He endured great privations last
winter for Christ's sake, paying his board while flour was
$1.50 per pound and fresh beef fifty cents. Sold his horse
to pay his board. He needs immediate aid from your Board,
although I am unprepared to say how much till I visit the
place and see for myself. He is pious, modest, studious and
unassuming and wishes to know nothing else among the
people but Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He wants no
land claim, if he can live as a minister and avoid it and be
honest. He tells me the church proposed to ask the Board
to appropriate $500 to his support, but he persuaded them
to ask for but $400. Should this little church build the
coming year, probably that sum should be appropriated to
him. $700 is a small salary for a man in that place and I
think in a very few years the church will be able to sustain
their own minister entirely.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
N. B. — The church at Marysville needs immediate atten-
tion. They are able to support a minister, if they fully

317 This was the Table Rock (Jacksonville) Baptist Church, organized May
28, 1853.— Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:12.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 395

understood the value of the ministry. But they are young
members, mostly from the western states. Yet they have
paid Br. Stevens during the last nine months. One brother
told me two months ago that he had paid him in money
and otherwise $209 and he still expected to help him. The
same brother told me that he had paid the past year over
$500 for building their meeting house and supporting the
ministry. Another brother told me he had paid Br. Stevens
$140 since last October. Yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received July 30, 1853.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., June 14, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Br.:

I shall now only have time to communicate the state of
things in connection with my labors in Tualatin Plains the
past month. I attended the yearly meetings of the West
Tualatin Church on Friday, Saturday and Sabbath, the 22,
23d and 24th of April. The weather was very rainy on
Friday and but four persons were in attendance. On Satur-
day and Sabbath our congregation became unusually large,
although the weather continued wet and cool, and the house
being an open log school house (a thing noways uncommon
in Oregon), the congregation were in a very unfavorable
condition to be benefited by the gospel ; yet the meeting
became interesting and, after the public service closed,
Christians of various denominations expressed a regret that
the meetings had not been continued through the week. So
much solicitude was manifested on the part of professors of
religion that Br. Weston and myself consented to visit the
church in four weeks and labor three days with that people.

On the second Friday, Saturday and Sabbath in May the
yearly meeting of the West Union church, ten miles east
from the West Tualatin Church, in another [part] of the
Tualatin Plains, was field. Br. Weston, their pastor, and

396 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

myself were the only ministers present till the evening of
the last day. Although a political meeting was held in the
neighborhood on Saturday and the political excitement pre-
ceding the general election was waxing warm,^!^ our meet-
ings were solemn. The brethren began to confess their
wanderings and give tokens of true penitence for past re-
missness in duty. On Sabbath some of the impenitent
manifested unusual interest in the preached word and their
hearts appeared softened. The meeting closed without any
evidence that any souls were savingly converted. On Friday
before the fourth Sabbath in May a meeting was commenced
with the West Tualatin Church and the first day had not
passed before we began to witness tokens of Divine favor
with the brethren who were convened from both the afore-
named churches, as well as with the brethren from other
churches. Sinners manifested solicitude for the salvation of
their souls and on Sabbath a young man and his wife asked
for baptism. The wife dated her conversion from the time
of the meeting two weeks previous in West Union Church,
she and her husband having attended that meeting. At
three o'clock the congregation repaired to one of the
branches of Tualatin^^^ River, in which I had the happiness
of burying these candidates in the watery grave and raising
them up, I trust, to walk in newness of life. The scene was
solemn. Before closing the public exercises of the day the
question was propounded to the church and congregation,
Will you have this meeting continued? Almost the whole
congregation, consisting of about 130, rose to their feet as
an expresion of their wish that the meeting should be con-
tinued. The meeting was continued with increasing interest
through the week ; by Saturday the congregation had in-
creased to nearly 200. During the prayer meeting before
preaching a brother, who had left the church six years before
and joined the sect generally known as the Campbellites,

318 This was the campaig^n preceding the general state election of 1853. — Ban-
croft, Hist, of Ore., II :309. W. C. Woodward, Political Parties in Oregon, in
Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar., XII :55.

319 This branch was probably Gale's Creek, which rises west of Forest Grove.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 397

rose and confessed his wanderings with deep emotions and
said he had no other home but in the Baptist church, and
closed by saying, "I now knock for admittance at the door
of the church, if you can receive me." He was followed by
his wife and three others who had been in similar condition.
Two others came forward with letters, all of whom were
received into fellowship with the church. An opportunity
was then given for any who wished to unite with the
church by baptism ; three young converts came forward and
related what God had done for their souls and were likewise
received for baptism ; all young men. The next Monday
two of these young men were baptized by Br. Weston. The
other will join the West Union Church very soon. There
were several other cases of hopeful conversion and the
meeting closed at the end of eleven days, apparently with
as much interest in the minds of the impenitent as at any
period of the meeting. The labors were performed mostly
by Br. Weston and myself, in connection with Elder
Porter,32o ^-j^g pastor of the church, and the lay brethren
present. A meeting was appointed for Br. Weston to preach
the next Saturday and Sabbath, at which time probably
others will go forward in the ordinance of baptism. The
subjects of our discussions were mostly such as the follow-
ing: The Nature and Consequence of Sin, The Nature of
Penitence, The Exclusive Claims of the Gospel, The Office
of Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice and Mediator, In What
the New Birth Consists and In What the Work of the
Disciples of Christ Consists. The church will probably
make arrangements to secure the labors of Br. Weston half
the time from this time and the two above-named churches
will make arrangements to pay him about $600 salary and
liberate him from his blacksmith shop entirely. This church
are making arrangements to build a good, neat house of

320 Rev. William Porter came to Oregon from Ohio in 1847 and was for a
time pastor of the West Union Church. He helped organize the West Tualatin
Church, near which he had a donation land claim, and was its pastor for some
years. He died in 1872. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:3, 11, 192.

398 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

worship at Forest Grove,^^! ^ little village springing up in
connection with a school designed to be the literary organ
of the Congregational churches in Oregon. On the whole,
our Zion seems to have an onward tendency in Oregon,
notwithstanding the many opposing barriers the enemy raises
in our way. Pray for us that our faith may increase more
and more and that we may abound more and more in every
gospel labor. Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
Received Aug. 9, 1853.

Marysville, Ore. Ter., June 27th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Br. Hill:

The meetings of the Willamette Baptist Association closed
yesterday. All the churches except two were represented.
One of that number was the LaCreole Church, some of
whose delegates last year took the lead in opposing benevo-
lent operations. All the deliberations were conducted with
the utmost harmony and resolutions were passed in favor
of the American Baptist Publication Society, the A. B. H.
Mission Soc, Sunday schools, Oregon City College and
religious periodicals. Subscribers were obtained for the
latter and books sold by the agents of the American Baptist
Publication Society. The subject of the importance of the
Baptists in Oregon and Washington territories sustaining
a religious periodical at an early period was discussed and
a committee was appointed to correspond with printers and
editors on this subject and report at the next anniversary.222
Two churches were received into the body, one of which
is the Table Rock Church located at Table Rock or Jackson-

321 The town grew up on the claim of Rev. Harvey Clark, who gave the town-
site for the benefit of the college. Tualatin Academy was incorporated in 1849,
and Pacific University a few years later. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., II :32-3S.

322 This agitation resulted in 1856 in "The Religious Expositor," which sus-
pended after twenty-six issues. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1 :24.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 399

ville, in Rogue River Valley, the other on the forks of the
Santiam River. ^-•^ Two other churches are organized, which
will unite with the Association next year.

The preaching through the sittings was instructing and
impressive, the congregations good and seriously attentive.
The exercises will not fail to make a good impression on
the public mind. We have now arrived at the long prayed
for period when this body may pass beyond a blighting
anti-missionary influence.

At the close of the morning services the claims of the
Home Mission Society were presented for about five min-
utes and a collection of forty dollars and twelve and a half
cents ($40,121/2) was taken up in favor of that Society and
this morning Sister Margaret Robinson gave ten dollars for
that object. The churches are small, but are becoming
convinced that the ministry should abide in their calling and
that it is the privilege of the churches to sustain their
spiritual servants, and are fast coming up with the work.

The churches of the Association have received, the past
year, 14 by baptism, 38 by letter and relation. Total number
is 245, number of churches 13, making in all 15 churches
nominally missionary. Yours sincerely

EZRA FISHER.
Received Aug. 30, 1853.

Marysville, O. Ter., June the 27, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A .B. H. M. Soc, New York.

Dear Br. Hill:

Herein I send you my report of labor as General Itinerant
under the appointment of the Home Mission Society for the
first (1st) quarter ending June the 30th, 1853.

I have labored thirteen weeks in the quarter. Preached
twenty-eight sermons, attended twenty-six (26) prayer meet-

323 This was the Providence Baptist Church, organized April 9, 1853. — Mat-
toon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:12.

400 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ings, eleven covenant meetings (11), visited religiously
sixty-two families and other individuals, two common
schools, baptized two (2) persons, traveled to and from my
appointments five hundred and forty-five miles (545) ; ten
have been received by letter and one by experience and
eight have been hopefully converted.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.

Marysville, O. Ten, June the 27, 1853.
To the Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. Hill:

Herein I send you my report of labor as exploring and
collecting agent under the appointment of the Home Mission
Society for the first quarter ending June 30th, 1853.

I have visited as towns Portland, Oregon City, Marysville
and Albany and Shilo, Lebanon, West Union, West Tualatin
and Marysville churches. Have travelled to and from my
appointments live hundred and forty-five (545) miles. Have
labored thirteen (13) weeks. Have collected fifty dollars
and twelve and a half cents ($50.12^2)- Have paid one
dollar and twelve and a half cents ($1.12i^) for traveling
expenses and twenty-five cents for postage (25) — $1.37%.
Delivered twenty-eight sermons (28). Baptized two (2)
persons. Attended a meeting of eleven days (11) with the
West Tualatin Church in which my labors were almost
incessant. Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

N. B. — Received by collection at the Marysville Associa-
tion $40,121/2. Mrs. Margaret Robinson's donation, $10.00.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 401

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 10th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Br. HiU :

I have just returned from a seven weeks' tour to our
Association and thence to Umpqua and Rogue River valleys.
I found yours of May 4th and 28th on my return. Rejoice
to learn that Br. Post is finally appointed by your Board to
the charge of our school, and prayerfully hope nothing but
God's special providences will prevent his immediately taking
the steamer for Oregon.

Yesterday I attended the quarterly examination of our
school, found that there had been over forty students during
the quarter and that the average attendance was something
over thirty. We have employed the same teacher for next
quarter, hoping that Br. Post will arrive soon enough to
commence the winter term.

I shall leave for Washington Ter., especially that part
bordering upon Puget Sound, in a few days. The tour will
occupy six or eight weeks. I regret that I could not have
delayed this tour till next summer as Sept. is the month in
which the yearly meetings of the churches are mostly ap-
pointed, except those that are deferred till spring. My pres-
ence would contribute somewhat to the furtherance of the
cause of Christ as it relates to the interests of Home Mis-
sions, our school, and the revival of religion in the churches,
but God is not limited and I withheld my name from attend-
ing those meetings in reference to the above-named tour,
knowing that our rainy seasons commence sometime in
October and a delay from that tour till after these meetings
would throw me in heavy rains and open boats in a new
and sparsely settled country, with nothing but natural roads
and subject to the necessity of camping out some of the
nights. My personal attention is much needed in this vi-
cinity with the churches to raise some funds for the school
building while the hearts of the brethren are opened by the
spirit of the Most High to Christian enterprise. But I can

402 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

only do what I can and leave the event with Him who
sympathizes with all our desires to see His cause advanced
in the midst of error, where all our organizations are new
and feeble. Yet I often, nay daily, cry to Him for more
laborers who can give themselves to the ministry of the
Word, in the most liberal sense, to every good work. In
this I must not fail to request the Board to appoint Rev.
Jas. S. Read their missionary to Table Rock Church and
town, more generally known by the name of Jacksonville,
the seat of justice for [Jackson] County, lying in Rogue
River Valley. This valley contains about the amount of
six townships of farming prairie land, about half of which
is exceedingly rich and fertile ; the remainder is compara-
tively unfit for cultivation. Portions of the hill and moun-
tain sides afford good grazing six or eight months in the
year, while other portions are sterile, except that here and
there a solitary, long-leafed pine towers above a scattered
growth of chaparral and manzanita, sure index of desert
land. But through all these mountains are deposited by
tne Master hand rich treasures of gold, and thousands of our
countrymen are here employed in digging and washing it
from the otherwise almost valueless earth. In this place
Br. Read found a number of valuable brethren last Oct. or
Nov., who solicited his sojourn with them through the win-
ter. In May he organized a church of twelve, including
himself. The members of the church, without exception, are
among the most influential citizens in the county and seem
to understand remarkably well for a new settlement the
duties and responsibilities of a church. At present there is
no other minister of any order in the county. Br. Read's
influence with the citizens and miners is decidedly good.
The church are about building a meetinghouse in Table
Rock or Jacksonville, as it is called this season. Have
agreed to raise $250 for Br. Read's support and say they
intend to make it $300. Br. Clinton says he will give hnn
his board and washing and furnish him his horse to ride
for the year for his part. The church evinces a true mis-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 403

sionary spirit. Were the church suppHed with a house of
worship and their own houses and barns built, as is the case
with churches in older countries, they say they could suppofc
their own minister. I think Br. Read needs $700 salary in
order to sustain him in the place. Provisions and clothing
are at least 50 per cent higher than at Oregon City.

I cannot predict what will be the final result of the mining
business but it will pay large wages to the laborer for years
to come. I think it would be a judicious arrangement to
appropriate $300 or $400 to Br. Read's support for one year
in Table Rock and vicinity. Our new counties are more
fluctuating than older, yet there is an appearance of stability
sufficient to warrant the appropriation. The principal draw-
backs to the hope of usefulness will be the instability of
the mining part of the population. Yet the agricultural
interests, and even manufacturing interests, will be stable,
should the mines fail.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Sept. 12, 1853.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 22, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Brother :

I wrote you by the last mail describing as nearly as I
could the geographical position and relative in'portance of
Rogue River Valley as a missionary field. In that letter I
recommended the appointment of Br. James S. Read as a
missionary for Jacksonville (Table Rock) and vicinity. In
this I wish to give you a brief definite view of the Umpqua
Valley. The rim of this basin is formed by the Cascade
Mountains on the east, the Umpqua on the south, the Coast
Range on the west and the Calapooia ^Mountains on the north.
The distance from the south base of the Calapooia IMts. to
the north base of the Umpqua Mts. varies from sixty to
eighty or eighty-five miles, and from east to west from

404 CQRRESPONDENCE OF THE

twenty to thirty or thirty-five miles. This basin is little
else than a concatenation of hills and low mountains inter-
spersed in every direction with valleys varying in breadth
from a few yards to three or four miles and in length from
two or three miles to one hundred and thirty, by the mean-
derings of the streams. The valleys are almost uniformly
prairie, except occasionally a grove immediately skirting the
margin of the streams, and are uniformly rich and well
adapted to every branch of agricultural pursuits. Every
twenty acres, under a good state of cultivation, would pro-
duce enough to support any ordinary family. The hills are
generally covered with a fine growth of nutritious grasses
and studded with groves of branched oaks resembling in
appearance large orchards of old apple trees more than a
forest of straight, upright trees. These are interspersed
with an occasional long-leafed pine, while here and there in
the defiles of the high hills and along the water courses
are found groves of excellent fir well adapted to fencing and
building purposes. The valleys are generally too small to
render all the purposes of religious society convenient, while
each family claims from 320 to 640 acres of land. Conse-
quently the minister must travel great distances and preach
to small congregations embracing a great variety of religious
views. But the large land claims will soon become divided
and subdivided as lands become scarce and the prices high.
This valley will have its own ports and its commerce will
soon become as distinct from the Willamette as Connecticut
is from Massachusetts. A few miles from the mouth of
the Umpqua, on the tide water, a small commercial town
has sprung into existence by the name of Scottsburg, which
is approached from the main valley by a pack trail. Twenty
miles south of the mouth of the Umpqua is an entrance into
a bay called Cowes Bay (pronounced Coos Bay324) which
extends into the interior about 30 miles. At the head of this

324 The name now spelled Coos is of Indian origin, and was the name of a
tribe and of the Bay. It was variously spelled Cowis, Cowes, Kowes and Coose. —
F. V. Holman, Hist, of the Counties of Oregon, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar., XI :39.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 405

bay a town is soon to be laid ofP^^ and a wagon road
constructed to the southern part of the Umpqua Valley so
as to intersect the road leading from the Willamette Valley
to the mining district. Around the several arms of the bay
it is said there is a large tract of rich, level, timbered land,
sufficient to form a small county. Umpqua Valley now
contains 3000 souls and about twelve or fifteen Baptist
members, mostly from Missouri and Ohio. Among this
number is Elder Thomas Stevens,^26 Qf Welch origin, who
formerly preached in or near Utica, N. Y., and, for the last
fifteen years, near Sandusky City, Ohio. He says he is
personally acquainted with W. R. Williams, D. D.,^^? Qf
your city. I spent two Sabbaths in the Umpqua Valley on
my tour to Rogue River. On my return, I assisted Brother
Stevens in constituting a small church at the mouth of
Deer Creek.^^s fj^g point is one of as much apparent import-
ance as any in the valley and it is spoken of as the most
probable place for the permanent county seat. A large flour-
ing mill is just erected at the place and there are two small
stores and a post office at the place. Br. Stevens retains
many of the Welch peculiarities, especially in his preaching
— full of figures, imagination lively and never fails to interest
his hearers. Seems not over prudent in the control of his
tongue; yet if he could live in the midst of an affectionate
church which could appreciate the importance of a living
ministry, I think he would be a rich acquisition to the cause
of Christ. I have my difficulties in recommending him for
an appointment, yet my prevailing opinion is that he should
be appointed to preach to the church at the mouth of Deer
Creek, with liberty to fix his outstations in Umpqua Valley
according to his own judgment, with a salary of $300 or $400,
if he apply. I have named this sum because he has a good

325 The Coos Bay Company was formed in May, 1853, and the first settle-
ment in the Coos Bay country was made that summer. The town referred to as
about to be laid out was Empire City. Marshfield was laid off later. — Bancroft.
Hist, of Ore., 11:331, 332.

326 See note 284.

327 See note 236.

328 This was ten miles east of Roseburg. It was organized July 24, 1853, in
the house of William Perry. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:13.

406 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

claim, with a few cows and a team of oxen, within one mile
of the place where the village will be built; this his family
and a brother can manage without materially engrossing
his care or time, so that that sum will be as much for him
as $600 will be for Br. Read at Jacksonville. . . .

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — The Methodists have two ministers in Umpqua.
Besides these there is no minister of any order except Br.
Stevens. I trust one of the six or eight Baptist ministers
now on their way overland for Oregon^^° will find a home
in Umpqua Valley and help in sowing the seed and reaping
the harvest in promising fields. The climate in this valley
is mild and remarkably salubrious.
Received Oct. 6, 1853.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Aug. 23d, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, N. Y.
Dear Brother:

In this I design to write you a general letter touching
our affairs in Oregon. I will begin with the state of things
in Oregon City. Our city or rather town has undergone a
great change in its business appearance during the last four
months. We have now four wholesale stores and fourteen
retail drygoods stores, and probably four times the amount
of goods are sold in a month as in the same month last year.
We have now a large foundry in operation, where mill irons
and all the castings for our river steamboats may be made.
On the opposite side of the river a permanent breakwater
is being constructed for the double purpose of rendering
available the water power and putting it in requisition, and
letting the boats from the upper trade down to receive the
merchandise at the foot of the falls. Two steamboats are
now building in our city and one just above the falls, in a

330 Among these Baptist ministers were Revs. C. C. Riley, J. Bond, W. M.
Davis, G. W. Bond, D. Hubbard, R. D. Gray, J. D. South and W. P. Koger.—
Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:100-07, 10, 14.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 407

village, half a mile above the place, called Canema, in which
place there are two or three drygoods stores, an extensive
plough factory and other mechanic shops. Our population
are all the while changing, yet the tendency is toward a
permanent increase. Several large business houses have
been built this season ; three or four more are now on the
way and will be completed in five or six weeks, and it is
said that the number does not meet the demand. It appears
to me that, under these circumstances, the demand for a
good professional teacher in our school is imperious. In the
department of teaching, and, as a member of our feeble
church, acting as superintendent of our Sunday school, such
a man's influence will no doubt be felt in Oregon more
than the labors of any pastor of any of our churches. I
know not how to cherish the thought that Br. Post must
stop at San Francisco for want of means to bring his family
from that to this place. I know not how cheaply Br. Thomas
carries his goods to San Francisco, but I do know that it
costs nearly half as much to ship them from that place to
Oregon as it does to ship from N. Y. to Oregon. Br. Post,
in my estimation, had better have shipped himself and family
on board the clipper Hurricane for Oregon than to leave
half his family in N. Y., take the other half and his furniture
to San Francisco and a few cases of books to Oregon. To
me this does not look quite enough like burning the ship.
However, I will do what I can in the case. But the circum-
stances are rather embarrassing. We feel inclined to the
opinion that it will operate against the interests of the school
in our immediate community, if we appeal to the public
liberality to pay his passage and that of his family from San
Francisco just at the time when their benevolence is highly
taxed every year to meet the sufferings of the overland
immigration by sending them provisions above the Cascade
Mountains and aiding the poor after their arrival in the
valley. If we apply to the churches, they are scattered over
a country almost half as large as the state of N. Y. I think,
however, an appeal to the churches would meet with a

408 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

tolerably cordial response. But this I must make, if it is
done this year. Then your Board are growing impatient
for me to visit Pugets Sound and, should I delay this
journey five or six weeks, the rainy season, high waters,
difficult travelling and the embarrassments attendant to an
exploring agent's business in the winter, would be the result.
By advising with the brethren, they say, Delay your tour
to the Sound till this object is secured. And this is the
course I should regard Providence marking out for me but
for the fact that your Board are looking to the Sound with
a deep interest and I am unwilling to disappoint them. I
shall endeavor to see the agent of the Rowland and Aspen-
wall Company''-'^ and do what I can for Br. Post in a few
days, attend the yearly meeting of the Oregon City Church
commencing Friday before the first Sabbath in Sept., and
leave for the Sound just as soon as this meeting closes,
take the first part of the rainy season into the tour and
leave the event with Him who does all things well.

I wish to state that Marion County, with Salem for its
shire, which is the capital of the Territory, has no Baptist
minister within its bounds. In this county are three mis-
sionary and two anti-missionary Baptist churches. The
three missionary churches are about twelve miles from Salem.
The three churches are nearly able to sustain one minister.
Now I think your Board would do well to appoint a minister
for Salem and vicinity. He will be sure to be taken up in
part by these churches and receive at least half his support
from them before he has been three months in Oregon, if
he is a man in any degree adapted to the work in Salem.
These churches may despair of finding an immigrant preach-
er to settle on the public lands and preach to them, as the
public lands are all taken up in their vicinity. These
churches, at least two of them, are feeling the importance
of an efficient ministry given to the work. I know of no
Baptist member in Salem, yet other denominations, with

331 The Rowland and Aspenwall Company operated steamships from New
York to the Isthmus of Panama. — G. H. Himes.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 409

little strength in the country, are laboring to build up an
interest here. Salem is growing with the rapidity of west-
ern towns on navigable waters.

Albany, also, about 25 miles above Salem, is growing fast.
In this town we have a feeble church. Albany is the county
seat for Lynn County.^^^ The church in this place has only
occasional preaching. I think a good opening for a minister
will be made in this place before next spring.
Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Oct. 6, 1853.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Sept. 6th, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother:

I received yours of July 5th, principally in reference to Br.
Post's outfit, by the last mail. I had just written you that
I should be on my way to the Sound immediately upon the
close of the yearly meeting at this place, but the tenor of
your last letter inclined me to delay the tour to the Sound
four or five weeks, attend the yearly meetings of two or
three churches in the valley and perform the double service
of laboring in these meetings and raising what I can to aid
Brother Post in his passage from San Francisco to this place.
At the close of the forenoon service in the Baptist meeting-
house last Lord's day, the subject of Brother Post's wants
was presented, and we took up a collection ol $25.35, which
we shall apply to that object and, as you have now an edu-
cational department to the Home Mission Society, if it is
consistent with your rules, you will credit this amount and
charge it to Brother Post as part of his fare from San Fran-
cisco to Oregon City. I think we shall be able to raise $100
or $150 more without materially interfering with my official
duties, if these are not a part of them, and reach the Sound
so as to visit most of the important settlements in Wash-

332 Ivinn County was organized in 1847. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:715.

410 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ington Territory and return by the middle of December,
which will give me five or six weeks of exposure to the
heavy rains of the winter, unless it should be unusually mild.
But the cause of our blessed Lord demands this service and
I shall leave the event with Him and explore that territory
as soon as I have performed the other service. To human
probability, a failure of securing Brother Post to this station
would prove a calamity too great for us to sustain in Ore-
gon, although our brethren do not justly appreciate the im-
portance of this enterprise upon the future interests of the
denomination on the Pacific Coast.

Our yearly meeting with the Oregon City church has just
closed. The meetings were well attended, even to a crowded
house on the Sabbath; at all the services the congregations
were attentive and solemn, even to weeping, in numbers of
instances ; yet we have learned of no cases of conversion.
Brother Johnson preached in the morning; Brother Chandler
at 3 P. M., and I in the evening.

The Sabbath before, I preached and baptized a young
brother who has been led to submit to the Messiah's reign
within the last three months. The Sabbath school and Bible
class in this church are still quite interesting, although we
are destitute of teachers. Mrs. Fisher is the only perma-
nent teacher in the female classes. Whenever I am at home,
I superintend the school and teach the male Bible class.
Since Brother Chandler closed his labors with the church.
Brother Johnson is our supply, but his health is so poor
that he can perform no pastoral labors.

I will here introduce another subject. The long expected
Coloma has arrived at last, having been out somewhat over
eight months. Our goods all arrived in good order except
such as were damaged by the action of the salsoda as it con-
tracted moisture, dissolved and ran promiscuously through
the goods. Of the eight pounds of the salsoda put up, we
found about one-fourth of a pound in the paper. The rest
had been converted into a fluid and stood in crystalization

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 411

on the old books, my hat, frock coat, flannel and both the
bolts of cotton sheeting. About half the hat was as rotten
as brown paper. The back and part of one sleeve of the
coat were saturated with salsoda, the colour changed to a
pale snufif and the texture destroyed ; also a place about the
size of the palm of my hand in each fold of the coat. The
coat was literally ruined. The soda saturated through the
folds of about half of the red flannel, so as to entirely ruin
about one-third of the bolt, or six yards. We shall lose about
one-third of both bolts of sheeting, one bleached and one un-
bleached. I have estimated the damage as follows :

1 hat, dead loss, $2.00 $ 2.00

1 frock coat, damaged, $12.00 12.00

1 bolt of bleached cotton, damaged, $1.29 1.29

1 do unbleached do, do, $1.23 1.23

8 pounds of salsoda, dead loss, $0.33 33

6 yards flannel, @ $0.25 per yard, $1.50 1.50

Total $18.35

I am ignorant of the rules regulating insurance offices.
But this one thing I will say, that I should never have
thought of packing old books with leather covers around a
bundle of salsoda and another of saleratus, wrapped in paper,
and then packed on the top of or underneath a good coat, a
hat, a piece of flannel and cotton goods, for a voyage of
twenty thousand miles. It seems that the box was stowed
away in the ship bottom side up, so that all the liquid sal-
soda as it contracted moisture settled into the above named
goods. I have no doubt the vessel was loaded too deep for
so long a voyage, but I have no expectation that the insur-
ance company will pay for damages occurring under such
circumstances. I have stated the facts as nearly as I can
as they appear to me and leave the matter for you to adjust
as nearly right as the case may appear in your judgment.
I will say, however, that I had rather pay for the freight of
good, clean, dry, white pine shavings than for old school
books, for in the nature of the case one is worth just as

412 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

much as the other. The shavings will contract little mois-
ture ; the books with leather bindings will always mold in
the hold of a ship. I have learned a profitable lesson in this
matter (yet it is rather an expensive one for somebody),
that, should I in coming time order saleratus and salsoda, I
shall order them put up in tight vessels and packed apart
from valuable clothing.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Oct. 29, 1853.

Oregon City, Oct. 1st, 1853.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother :

Herein I send my report of labor under the appointment
of the Home Mission Society as their exploring agent for
Oregon Ter. for the 2nd. quarter, ending Sept. 30th, 1853.

During the quarter I visited Umpqua and Rogue River
valleys, and the towns of Jacksonville, or Table Rock, in
Rogue River Valley; Winchester, on the Umpqua River,
Marysville, county seat of Benton County, Albany, county
seat of Lynn County ; Portland, Washington County , Marys-
ville, Santiam, Lebanon, French Prairie and Oregon City
churches. Labored 13 weeks during the quarter. Paid $12.75
for travelling expenses and twenty-four cents for postage.
Delivered twenty-seven sermons and fifteen addresses, most-
ly in the yearly meetings. Baptized one person, a young
man, at Oregon City, and four in the Santiam church. Have
labored three weeks in the yearly meetings with the Lebanon,
Santiam and French Prairie churches.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER, Exp. Agt.

N, B. — If time permits, I intend to give you a brief view
of the influence of the yearly meetings on the churches.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 413

Oregon City, Oct. 1st, 1853.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as general itinerant for
the 2nd quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1853. I have labored 13
weeks in the quarter; preached 27 sermons and delivered 15
addresses ; attended six churc'h and covenant meetings ; eight
prayer meetings and visited religiously 98 families and other
persons ; baptized five persons ; assisted in the organization of
one church on Deer Creek in the Umpqua Valley; traveled
to and from my appointments 849 miles. In connection with
the labors of other brethren in the ministry where I labored
in yearly meeting, which will not be reported to your Board,
eight persons have been received by letter, three by experi-
ence, 12 by baptism and two more were received as candi-
dates for baptism,^^^ who will soon be baptized by the pastor,
Rev. Geo. C. Chandler. In connection with the labors of
other brethren where I have labored, there have been eleven
cases of hopeful conversion. One young man of promise is
preparing for the ministry within the Willamette Baptist
Association. Three Sabbath schools are sustained in the
churches in the Willamette Valley and Br. Chandler sustains
one at one of his outposts.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Received Nov. 29, 1853. General Itinerant.

Oregon City, Oregon, Oct. 3rd, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

I wish to give you a birdseye view of things as they are
connected with the Baptist cause in Oregon. And first, I

333 One of these two candidates was a Mr. Jackson. — Mss. Records of the
Oregon City Church. His initials and the other's name are not given in the records.

414 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

will give you a brief history of the yearly meetings of the
past summer and autumn, or rather of the season now pass-
ing, as they have occurred, a part of which you have report-
ed in your last associational minutes. The darkness which
has hung over our feeble churches for the past four years
has been truly alarming, not on account of any serious out-
breaks among the members, neither on account of any sinful
strife and rending divisions occasioned by agitation of
naughty doctrinal debates. But the four years may prop-
erly be denominated the years of the reign of gold. Worldly
mindedness seemed to hold imperious claim upon the throne
of the affections. But early last spring our brethren in the
ministry began to manifest something like a fresh anointing
from the horn of salvation, and almost everywhere it became
apparent that the ear could be charmed by the simple story
of a Saviour's love. In May, meetings were held with the
West Tualatin and West Union churches, during which the
one more than doubled its members and the last received
four by baptism. The sessions of the Association passed off
harmoniously, happily. I then visited Umpqua and Rogue
River valleys. I found affairs, on the whole, apparently un-
der the smiles of the great Head of the Church.

Our yearly meetings were now about to be renewed and
my mind was distressingly divided between the labors as-
signed me by your Board to proceed to Puget Sound and
explore that important field, hitherto untried by Baptist min-
isters, and what I held as the no less important duty of
laboring with the churches (dearly beloved by me) in the
Willamette Valley in their yearly meetings then just com-
ing on. I often went to the throne of grace for direction.
Your letter urging the importance of our making immediate
efforts to help Br. J. D. Post from California to this place
aided me in deciding the path of duty. Yet I found our
brethren all of opinion that my duty was to stay and labor
in these meetings and at the same time, as I chanced to fall
in with a brother, do something if possible for Br. Post.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 415

Our meeting at Oregon City was of but three days' con-
tinuance, with favorable indications, but has not as yet re-
sulted in any hopeful cases of conversion. The yearly mieet-
ing with the Shilo church, 11 miles south of Salem, continued
six days and resulted in five or six hopeful cases of convers-
ion. Five were added to the church by baptism^^^ and two
or three by experience. Br. J. G. Berkley''^^ was the only
ordained minister present, but he was assisted by faithful
young brethren of the church. The yearly meeting with the
Lebanon church followed on the 2nd Saturday of September,
which continued till Monday evening. One was received by
letter ; the church was revived ; two backsliders were pro-
fessedly reclaimed and two or three were inquiring what
they must do, when the meeting closed. The engagements
of the ministers present were such that we were obliged to
close the meetings at the very period when it was becoming
increasingly interesting. From Lebanon church I proceeded
to the Santiam church as fast as my business would permit,
traveling through an unusually heavy rain two days. The
meeting had been in progress for six days, conducted by
Elder Chandler and assisted by Elder Sperry. The evening
of my arrival an interesting young man professed a hope in
Christ, some few backsliders had returned to their first
love and the church was truly revived. The interest of the
meetings daily increased till on Sabbath Br. Chandler bap-
tized three interesting young persons, among whom was a
young married lady from Holland who could speak but
broken English. She had been a member of the Presbyterian
church. She expressed such strong confidence in God and
such endearing attachment to her Bible as sent a sensation
of sympathy through the congregation, as she exclaimed in
broken accents, yet with an eloquence which seemed more
than earthly, "My dear blessed Bible, that precious book, I
do love to read it every day ; it is not like your Bible," re-

334 One of those baDtized was Rev. Andrew J. Hunsaker, since then grown
to be very prominent in the Baptist work of the state.

335 This was Rev. Jesse G. P.erklev, 1796-1872. He came to Oregon from
Missouri in 1852. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:97.

416 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

ferring to the English translation. All the services of Sab-
bath were deeply solemn. On Monday evening nine per-
sons, mostly children of the members of the church, found
peace in believing. On Wednesday following, Br. Sperry
and I baptized nine persons in the waters of the Calapooia,
among whom was a Presbyterian brother and his wife. I
was obliged to leave that evening, yet numbers were still
enquiring where they might find ease for their troubled con-
science. The meetings of the French Prairie church followed
on the next Friday. This was a meeting of unusual interest.
Several were found disposed to seek a forgiveness of their
sins. The church was revived, although we have no cases
of conversion to record.

At the urgent request of some of the leading members of
the Santiam church, I consented to spend the 2nd Saturday
and Sabbath with Br. Chandler on the south side of the
south fork of the Santiam. How long I shall continue will
depend upon the indications of Him who sends His people
times of refreshing from His presence. Such is the present
state of things in general in the churches and such the im-
portance of raising something for Br. Post, together with
the fact that several Baptist ministers are now arriving in
the valley with the overland immigration who are seeking
places for a settlement, where for a season they may be use-
ful as self-supporting ministers and are asking counsel as to
the place where they may best serve the cause of Christ and
their families, that I cannot think your Board would advise
me to leave this field to explore the Sound, with all the ex-
posures and uncertainties of winter, while the country is
very new, provisions scarce, settlements scattered and immi-
grants, just coming in, are all in confusion. Now my plan
is to leave the Sound till the waters fall next summer and
proceed thither immediately after the Association closes,
during the time of our wheat harvest, so as to be in the
valley again at the yearly meetings of the churches next fall.
The people at the Sound raise but little wheat as yet and
during the summer months a new country can be much bet-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 417

ter explored than in the winter and the people will more
readily come and hear the preached Word. I fear I shall not
be able to raise much more than $100 for Br. Post's passage
from San Francisco to Oregon City. Money is very scarce
in Oregon, or rather much more so than it has been since
'48, and numbers of the brethren promised to do something
for him, but will be unable to do it in time to meet his wants.
Many of our forehanded farmers tell me that they have not
a dollar to their name. But they have barns full of wheat
and oats and plenty of cattle and horses and hogs on the
prairies. We have a little money in the Institution treasury,
so that I hope to be able to forward Br. Post about $150 to
San Francisco in time.

You have doubtless read accounts of the Indian war in
Rogue River Valley^^^ and are waiting with anxiety to learn
of its influence on our little band of disciples at Jacksonville.
I have feared much and prayed oft for those lovely brothers
and sisters, and especially for young Brother Read. The
Lord has kept them all in the hollow of His hand and I
believe not one of them has fallen by the hand of savage
barbarity. It was reported that our beloved brother Judge
Rice was massacred. But we learned in a few weeks, to our
great joy, that it was all a mistaken rumor. No doubt the
business relations of those brethren have been much de-
ranged and I fear they will be unable to build a suitable
house for worship this fall ; but the war is ended, except
with a few scattering clans who may annoy the people some.
The government will keep a garrison sufficiently strong to
keep the Indians quiet hereafter.

I forwarded the letter you sent to Br. Read addressed to
this place to my care, immediately on its arrival.

Our school is doing very well this quarter. Mr. Shat-
tuck^^'' gives his undivided time to it during the regular
school hours. Yet we must have a man in the school who
will identify himself with its present and future prosperity

336 This war broke out early in Tune, 1853, and ended in September of
that year.— Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:311-321.

337 This was E. D. Shattck. See note 316.

418 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

and likewise identiTy himself with the interests of the de-
nomination, if we will secure the confidence and cordial co-
operation of all our brethren in the Territory. We must
bring our brethren to feel that the school stands connected
with all that is promising in the future of our denomination
in Oregon and on the Pacific shores, at least, and then we
shall have patronage most cheerfully.

But the work of harmonizing discordant materials and
developing the spirit of true Christian philanthropy requires
the persevering patience and love and prayers of men more
than ordinarily devoted to the honor of the King of Zion.
O, that I had more grace and adaptedness for this work !
But for this work I cheerfully live and in this cause I some-
times feel that I would wish to die, or see the work crowned
with complete success. Soon, perhaps very soon, we shall
have young men in Oregon looking to the ministry asking
instruction from our school, if it continues its existence.

Yours,

EZR.\ FISHER.
Received Nov. 28, 1853.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Oct. 5, 1853.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

The Baptist church in this city last Saturday at their reg-
ular church meeting took up the subject of providing them-
selves with a pastor, which resulted in the following reso-
lutions :

Resolved that this church invite Elder Hezekiah Johnson
to become our supply till we can obtain a pastor.

2. Resolved that we appoint a committee of two, in the
absence of our deacon, to correspond with the Home Mission
Society Board to send us a suitable man to fill this place as
a pastor.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 419

The meeting closed without any formal action in relation
to the amount necessary to his salary, but I will be respons-
ible that $100 will be raised toward his salary in this place ;
perhaps $150. Now our case is a most urgent one. We have
never had but little pastoral labors performed in Oregon
City. The fact that our school is located here demands the
labors of an effective man every day in the place, who may
be always ready to co-operate with the teacher by counsel
and action. Since Brother Chandler left, nothing has been
done by way of sustaining the Sabbath school, except what
is done in the school room at the hour, and when I am ab-
sent, which is about three-fourths of the time, the male de-
partment is sometimes left without any teacher, ... In
view of all our circumstances, we must have a minister, ac-
ceptable to be sure as a preacher, but a practical, pious,
common sense pastor.

The Congregational church has such a man here,^^^ the
Methodists will keep such a man here, the Episcopalians will
soon have such a man here and the Baptists must have such
a man here, if they sustain no other pastor in the Territory.
Taking everything into account, this is the first appointment
that should be filled, if I do not greatly err in judgment.
I think you should appoint a man with a salary of $700,
$100 of which the church will pay. . . .
Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Nov. 29, 1853.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 2d, 1854.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother:

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Soc. as General Itinerant for the
3d quarter ending Dec. 31st, 1853. I have labored 13 weeks
during the quarter; preached 15 sermons; delivered ten lec-

338 Dr. G. H. Atkinson was the Congregationalist. — G. H. Himes.

420 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

tures on temperance and to the young in Sabbath schools
and to young Christians; attended eleven prayer meetings
and six church covenant meetings; visited religiously 41
families and as many more individuals ; visited two high
schools ; baptized one ; traveled to and from my appoint-
ments four hundred and thirty-eight miles. Eighteen per-
sons have been received by baptism, in connection with the
labors of myself and my fellow-laborers, and five by letter.
The church in Tualatin Plains, called West Union, have
completed a meeting house ; most of the work has been done
the present quarter.

Connected with the churches I have visited are five Sab-
bath schools, but they are generally small, averaging about
25 children and four teachers to the school ; probably in all
about 400 volumes in the libraries.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 2d, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. Home Mission Society:

Herein I send you my report under the appointment of the
Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for Oregon and
Washington Territories for the third quarter ending the 31st
of Dec, 1853. During the quarter I have visited the towns
of Marysville, Benton County; Forest Grove and Portland,
Washington County; Oregon City, Clackamas County, and
Santiam church, Lynn County ; Marysville church, Benton
County; West Union church twice and West Tualatin
church, Washington County; have labored 13 weeks during
the quarter ; collected one hundred dollars to aid Br. J. D.
Post from California to Oregon and paid the same to Br. J.
D. Post ; have paid two dollars and seventy cents for travel-
ing expenses ; twenty-five cents for postage ; preached fifteen
sermons ; delivered ten addresses ; baptized one person ; at-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 421

tended one meeting of eight days with the Santiam church,
during which time Brother Chandler, the pastor, and Br.
Cheadle, the father of some of the converts, baptized seven-
teen converts. I was present and preached the dedication
sermon in the new house built by the West Union church,
an account of which I shall give you in another letter.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — I wrote you some time since that I had collected
something more than $150 for Br. Post's traveling expenses
from Cal. to Oregon. That all things may appear straight, I
will state that on the arrival of Br. Post we found that the
house must have some work done on it to make it comfort-
able for his family. He therefore agreed to take $100 and
let the balance be applied to carrying on the work on the
school building, as a part of the funds collected were
paid over to me to be used at my discretion where it was
most needed, either to aid Br. Post or to carry on the work
on the house. You will therefore credit the donors to the
amount of $100 and charge the same to Br. Post so that
your books may stand fair. I will give you the names and
the amount paid by each person or congregation accompany-
ing this report.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan 2d, 1854.
Dear Br. Hill:

The following sums were collected to aid Br. J. D. Post
from Cal. to Oregon :

Collection taken in the Oregon City church $25.25

James Hunt 50

Israel Chamnies 5.00

Rev. Richmond Cheadle 8.I21/2

Joshua Brooks 1.00

Daniel Smith 2.00

Collection taken at the Santiam church 12.621/2

422 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

J. H. Pruett339 2.00

George Cornelius 3.00

D. D. Stroud 5.00

John Trapp 5.00

Alfred Rinehart 5.00

Martha Avory 5.00

Martha Robinson 2.50

Jeremiah Lewis 1.50

Arnold Fuller 2.50

Thomas M. Read 14.00

Total $100.00

This hundred dollars you will please credit to the donors
on your books and charge it to Br. J. D. Post and not to me,
as I have paid it over to him. In yours of Nov. 9th, 1853,
I noticed this paragraph, "Ere this I trust Br, Post is with
you and entered upon his work. I am glad your people
evinced a liberal spirit in aiding him to get from Cal. to
Oregon. He is worth and worthy of it. The credit and
charge will be made on our books and, if you report more,
we will do the same."

Now I suppose you charged that sum to Br. Post and
not to me, as I have paid him the $100 herein reported as
collected. If you have charged it to me, you will please
correct the mistake.
Received Feb. 10. 1854.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Feb. 24th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Br.:

Yours under date Dec. 5th, 1853, giving notice of the ap-
pointment of Rev. A. B. Cramb for this place, was received
last mail. Should he prove adapted to this place, he must
be a valuable acquisition to Oregon.

In this I have to announce both afiflictive and merciful

339 Of the above-named donors, J. H. Pruett (1820-1866) came to Oregon from
Missouri in 1847 and settled near Gervais. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:65.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 423

dispensations of an infinitely wise providence. God has seen
fit to remove my beloved wife from a state of probation to
one of ineffable bliss. At the time I last wrote you I was
sorely afflicted with boils and detained, much against my
inclinations, from a tour into the upper part of the Willam-
ette Valley. On Thursday I told my wife I thought I could
possibly ride, but the roads were bad, the waters high, and
she persuaded me to stay till the first of the week. On
Sabbath morning before we rose she told me that her stom-
ach did not feel right. Before meeting time we consulted
whether all should go to meeting, as the roads were bad and
we had a mile to walk. I advised her to stay with our
little son, not yet six years old. When we returned from
meeting about 5 P. M., I found the table spread and, as the
family came around the table, she took her seat by the fire.
I asked her if she was not intending to come to tea. She
replied she was quite unwell and could eat nothing. As I
turned my attention particularly to her, I discovered that
she was very pale. I was instantly impressed that her sick-
ness would be attended with serious results. (I have never
known her to complain of being sick until she was no longer
able to sit up.) She went immediately to her bed. . . .
Inflammation of the stomach and bowels progressed with a
slow but determined pace till the terrible King removed her
from all her earthly relations on Friday, the 20th of Janu-
ary, at five minutes past eleven A. M. I do not design to
write her obituary now, if ever. She has made her own
impression in the silent sphere where the retiring pioneer
missionary's wife is always mostly needed. The most im-
portant sphere of her Christian usefulness was at home,
aiding and ever encouraging her husband in his labors, when
his field lay far from home, which occasioned weeks and
sometimes months of separation, cheerfully assuming the
family responsibilities, with no complaints and few intima-
tions that ours was a mission of privations and trials un-
known to pastors' families in the older churches. Here she
always saw that the incense was daily burning on the family

424 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

altar, so that for almost twenty-four years there has not to
my recollection been a day in which the morning and even-
ing prayer has not been offered in my family, our protracted
journeys not excepted. As an illustration of her influence
in this respect in the family, the night after we deposited
her remains in the grave, my little son, to whom I have
alluded, after we retired to our lonely lodging, asked me,
"Who will pray in the family now when you are gone?"
Next to her family, she was ever found taking along with
her the entire family to the house of God as often as the
Sabbath returned. Thither she repaired as much to honour
God in His institutions as to be delighted with an eloquent
discourse. The Sabbath school has ever been a sphere of
Christian action in which she seemed at home and she has
never, except at short intervals, from ill health or causes
beyond her control, left hef seat as a teacher vacant. I need
not state to you, dear brother, that she ever took a deep
interest in all the meetings of the church, especially the cove-
nant meetings. The women's prayer-meeting found in her
a warm advocate and personal supporter. Although she
ever delighted to learn of the progress of missions, both at
home and abroad, yet her mind seemed peculiarly formed to
exert a maternal influence. The proper education of her own
family, in the most general sense of the term, as well as that
of the rising generation around her, occupied a large place
in her thoughts and labors. Hence she has for years mani-
fested a growing interest in religious education and, with
other periodicals which advocate this cause, she manifested
a great fondness for the Mothers' Journal. But she is done
with her earthly labors and I doubt not but she is now
reaping the rewards of those who come up out of great
tribulation, although hers was not a martyr's death. But in
her last illness her Christian character shone resplendent.
From the first day of her illness she expressed doubts of her
recovery and frequently conversed freely respecting the in-
terests of religion in Oregon City, and especially in her own
family. On Wednesday she called her three children who

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 425

had arrived at years of understanding, one by one, into her
room and urged upon them the necessity of immediately at-
tending to their souls' salvation and obtained a solemn promise
from each one of them that they would immediately seek for
pardon through a crucified Redeemer. On Friday morning,
about four, she discovered that she was failing and asked me if
I thought she was dying. I told her she was evidently failing
and unless some favorable change soon took place she could
not live long. She immediately called her family, said she must
once more recommend the religion of Jesus and give them
all the parting kiss. They were called up and came in. She
counseled us all, gave us the parting kiss and again obtained
the promise from our son, 19, and our daughters, 14 and 11
years of age, that they would immediately seek the salvation
of their souls. About this time she said, "O, how unfaithful
I have lived! Would to God that I could be instrumental
of doing more in my death than I have in my life!" She
continued in the agonies of death from about half-past four
till five minutes past eleven, yet in the exercise of her reason
and able to converse at intervals till within a few moments
of her last. If she lived a Christian, she emphatically died
a Christian and a soldier of the Cross. Death seemed to be
disarmed of his terrors. She seemed to have her feet plant-
ed firmly on the Rock of Ages and there she rested and
waited patiently for her change, with a calm, firm reliance
on the righteousness of Christ for her shelter from the
storm that must overtake the impenitent and the Grace of
God in Christ for her acceptance with Him. While I found
myself bereft of my dearest, best earthly friend, with two
daughters and a son, all under the age of fifteen, on my
hands, my field of labor seemed closed. All my prospects
for the future seemed for the present closed. My path was
darkened. It seemed to me that I could do nothing but
wait on God. I could not think of breaking up my family.
To leave the agency at this period, it seemed to me, would
be attended with consequences far from being desirable.
On the evening of the burial of Mrs. Fisher I called my

426 CORRESPONDENXE OF THE

family around me and inquired after the state of their minds
and found three of them convicted of sin ; also a lad of
fourteen then boarding with us.^^° The following Sabbath
Br. Chandler preached the funeral sermon on the occasion
of Mrs. F.'s death. The congregation was large and solemn.
Br. C. preached on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7 and
then left for his appointment on the Santiam. By this time
the interest was so apparent that it was judged expedient
that we keep up nightly meetings. I then entered the work
and, with the assistance of Br. Post, who preached frequently
evenings, and Br. Johnson, who preached once each Sabbath,
the church continued her meetings nightly for something
more than two weeks, and, during the present week, we have
meetings every night except two. I have already baptized
nine, three more are received as candidates for baptism and
two more will relate their experience to the Church to-
morrow; two of the converts have joined the Congregational
Church, being forbidden by their guardians to join the Bap-
tist. Their guardians are a Congregational deacon and wife.
Among those who were baptized, three were my own chil-
dren, one the lad who boarded at my house at the time of
Mrs. F.'s death, and one the son of Elder Johnson.^*^ Mrs.
F.'s physician^-^2 ^nd wife are received for baptism. We still
have a number of inquirers who are regular members of our
congregation. The work has extended into the Methodist
and Congregational churches and they are holding interesting
meetings at this time. This is the first revival of religion
that Oregon City has witnessed. Our prayer is that it may
pervade the whole town and vicinity. \Mth this state of
things and the church having no minister to perform pastoral
labors and knowing of no prospect of obtaining a pastor, it
resolved to invite me to take the pastoral charge and to
ask the Home Missionary Society to appoint me to this
place with a salary of $600, the church to raise $100 of it.

340 This was Charles Shively, son of the first postmaster at Astoria.

341 This was Hon. William Carey Johnson (1833-1912). He was for many years
a prominent attorney and member of the Baptist Church at Oregon City.

342 This was Dr. Majers.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 427

I never have got my consent to accept of the call on account
of the importance of the general work which must be per-
formed for Oregon. Yet, from the importance of sustaining
this point, my own sympathies for my little, motherless
family, of girls in part, who need and must have counsel at
this period of life, together with the dying request of my
wife that I keep the family together and, added to all the
rest, these young disciples who are promising and very much
need proper religious training, I have thought your Board
would allow me to watch over the interests of this church
for a few months and perform such agency labors as I can,
and is much needed, in the vicinity till the time of the
meeting of our association which occurs in June, after which
I hope to be able to leave my family and explore Washing-
ton Ter. in the latter part of the summer and fall. By the
time our association closes, I hope the work necessary to
give our school a vigorous growth will be accomplished, at
least so far that Br. Post can manage the financial affairs,
in addition to the labor of teaching, for a few months. I
trust also that Br. Cramb will be on the ground and meet
with a favorable reception with the church and people. In
this whole matter I desire to submit myself with prayerful
resignation into the hands of Infinite Wisdom. From all I
can gather by the opening providences of God, I now think
I shall pursue the course above suggested and make a formal
application for a reappointment as exploring agent by the
next mail. I think this is the judgment of all the brethren,
except so far as relates to the members of this church ; and
even here, their desires for pastoral labor and personal
sympathy for me and my family may perhaps sway their
judgment. If there is any reasonable prospect of a pastor
for this place soon, I am quite sure I shall be the last man
to preoccupy the place. The mail must leave before I shall
have time to write more.

The good work of Grace has been progressing through
the winter in the Shilo church under the labors mostly of

428 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Br. Davis^-'^ from Indiana. Clackamas^"*^ church had an
addition of five last Sabbath by baptism. Elder Hubbard
will probably settle with that church.

Affectionately your afflicted brother,
Received April 10, 1854. EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Mar. 9th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Yours of Jan. 18, '54, was received by last mail. I regret
to learn that the principal bill ordering goods was lost, as
it will occasion some ten months' delay from this time before
my family supplies will reach us, some of which are now
needed. But God's ways are all right and we shall soon
enough find it true. I will now proceed to order another

bill as near like the other as I can by my old memorandum.

* * * *

Respectfully yours, EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Mar. 10, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Herein I send you an application for reappointment as
Exploring Agent and General Itinerant for Oregon Ter.,
with a consent to make the necessary explorations in Wash-
ington Ter. during the summer and early part of the fall.

To the Executive Board of the Am. Bap. Home Mission
Society : The subscriber desires reappointment as Exploring
Agent and General Itinerant for Oregon Ter. for the term
of one year from the first day of April next, with permission
to spend three or four months mostly in Oregon City and
vicinity, in view of the present peculiar condition of the

343 This was Rev. William M. Davis, who came to Oregon in 1853 from Indiana,
and settled near Turner. — Mattoon. Bap. An. of Ore., 1:10. (See note 352.)

344 The Clackamas Church, about six miles north of Oregon City, was or-
ganized Nov.. 1853, by the author and Rev. David Hubbard. The latter was bom
in Kentucky in 1795, moved to Oregon in 1853, and died in 1866. — Mattoon, Bap.
An. of Ore., 1:14, 104.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 429

church and the afflicted and unsettled state of my family in
the removal of Mrs. Fisher by death, with the same salary
as the present year. EZRA FISHER,

Exploring Agent.

N. B. — The undersigned concurs in all the terms and
statements of the foregoing application. Yours,

JOHN D. POST.

Rev. B. M. Hill, Oregon City, Mar. 10, 1854.

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother:

The last week has been one of interest to the little church
in this place. Our meetings were continued during four
intervening evenings of the week. On Saturday at our
covenant meeting, four interesting young persons came be-
fore the church, related their Christian experience and were
received for baptism, and on Sabbath, after the morning
services, we repaired to the banks of the Willamette where
I was permitted to baptize seven converts. These make
sixteen that I have baptized into this church within the past
four weeks ; one more is received for baptism and we have
an interesting state of things in our community at present.
The converts are mostly from the youth and are very prom-
ising. We have established a weekly church prayer meeting,
a young men's weekly prayer meeting, a female prayer
meeting, the young ladies' weekly prayer meeting and the
monthly concert of prayer, in which a collection for the
cause of missions is to be taken up at each meeting. All
the converts take part in these religious exercises, and it
seems to me that I cannot consistently leave the lambs of
the fold long at a time till Br. Cramb arrives, or the church
is otherwise supplied with pastoral labors. Other ministers
are active in the place and I think your Board would heartily
approve of the course I have been led to pursue, if they
were here. Indeed I have not directed my steps for the last
eight weeks, neither have I tried. Providence in a peculiar
manner has marked my way and, although in some respects

430 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

deeply afflictive, I have not ventured to say more than this,
Lord direct, I will try and follow, although bowed down
with grief.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.

* * * *

Received April 26, 1854.

Oregon City, Apr. 1st, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant for
Oregon for the fourth quarter ending March 30th, 1854.

I have labored 13 weeks; preached 35 sermons; delivered
two temperance lectures, and 23 addresses at the special
meetings of Oregon City church and Clackamas church ;
attended 34 prayer meetings and six other religious meet-
ings ; visited religiously 124 families and other persons ;
visited two public schools in Oregon City; baptized 16
persons into the Oregon City church ; traveled to and from
my appointments 48 miles ; received one person by letter ;
22 persons have been hopefully converted in Oregon City
in connection with my labors ; monthly concert is established
at Oregon City church ; took up a collection at the monthly
concert for March of $3.75 for missionary purposes, object
not yet specified ; connected with the church is a Sabbath
school, and Bible class of about 25 scholars ; more than half
of the school are in the Bible class. Three teachers ; about
75 volumes in the library.

Our meetings continue interesting. We have a few en-
quirers and shall probably soon baptize others. I remain
most of my time in this place and vicinity, it seeming my
duty to look after the interests connected with this church
and school, while I can render some service in the important
towns on the river and attend two yearly meetings, namely,
at Marysville and West Tualatin churches, before the meet-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 431

ing of the association, which will occur the last of June. I
trust by that time Br. Cramb will reach this place, so that I
can feel it my duty to proceed to Washington Territory
without delay. I have no doubt of the importance of an
early exploration of that Ter., yet so providential have been
the demands for my services in this valley that I have acted
up to a conviction of duty and I believe with the cordial
approbation of every brother conversant with our wants in
Oregon and Washington territories who are on the ground.
I am quite sure that your Board would approve the course,
if they were on the ground and explored the field for them-
selves.

I feel no disposition to undervalue the judgment of your
Board or to disobey their instructions, but have endeavored
to do as nearly as I believed they would, if they were
individually in my place acting for Christ's interests on the
Pacific Coast for all coming time.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Apr. 1st, 1854.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.

Herein I send you my' report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
Oregon and Washington territories for the fourth quarter
ending March 31st, 1854.

I have visited Portland once, Clackamas church twice and
spent a large portion of my time in Oregon City with the
church and co-operating with the college, when I could do
it without materially interfering with my specific duties.

I have traveled 48 miles to and from my appointments,
exclusive of my labors with the O. City church ; have
labored 13 weeks during the quarter ; have preached 35
sermons and addressed the people 23 times, in connection
with the special meetings in the O. City and Clackamas

432 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

churches, having the conducting of all the meetings at O.
City church ; delivered 2 temperance addresses ; have baptized
16 persons into the Oregon City church.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

N. B. — Our young members are of more than usual prom-
ise and, although mostly youth, seem to be enquiring for
the line of duty and willing to do it. I have never enjoyed
so much consolation with the same number of young dis-
ciples as I have with these.

Yours,
EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Apr. 2d, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Br. Hill:

In reviewing my labors for the past year in connection
with the Zion of God in Oregon, while I have to deplore
my great unfaithfulness as a minister of the blessed gospel,
I have been led to rejoice that the spirit of the Lord has not
been entirely taken from me. God has been graciously
pleased to grant me the privilege of laboring with five
churches in the time of more than usual manifestations of
Divine favor, where the enquiry has been made, "What must
I do?" and the sinner has been pointed to the Lamb of God
as the only cure for the sin-sick soul. Another church
within our association, with which I have spent numbers
of Sabbaths, has also been highly blessed with a work of
grace. In these churches, as near as I can estimate, one
hundred and two hopeful converts have been added by bap-
tism. Of this number I baptized twenty-six, three of whom
were my own dear children, rendered doubly dear by the
recent death of their mother, and have witnessed the baptism
of thirty-seven more. When we take into account the scarce

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 433

population of the country and the small numbers in each
church, so that most of these churches have been more than
doubled in numbers and the cultivation of the means of
grace quadrupled, we feel that this year has been emphati-
cally the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
Most of the accessions have been children and youths frou;
eight to twenty-four years of age and a large proportion
are lads and young men of more than usual promise, some
of whom I trust will be found among the future ministers
of Oregon, perhaps of Asia. To be sure we are subject as
churches to all the changes and many of the discouragements
of a frontier county, yet our prospects are surely becoming
more and more bright. While our churches have been
blessed with a harvest of souls, God has not been unmindful
of our school, the Oregon City College. Br. Post's arrival
was hailed with gratitude to Almighty God by some of the
friends at least. I shall not soon forget the feelings that
came over my mind when I learned in Portland that he and
his family were at my house. Our school was at a low ebb.
He has entered upon his labors with the energy of a man in
earnest. His labors have been appreciated by the public
and the school for the last four months has been as pros-
perous as could have been reasonably anticipated under the
circumstances. Thus you see that God is graciously pleased
to prosper thus far, but with our prosperity, new responsi-
bilities and new wants are multiplying. We now more than
before need pastors for these churches and missionaries to
enter upon other important fields opening in every direction.
Our school building must be put in a condition to meet the
pressing wants of Br. Post's family and the school, which
we hope to do, God favoring, but we feel that we must have
immediately a chemical and philosophical apparatus to meet
the public wants and we feel that we must look to the
friends at home to furnish it. I trust you will second Br.
Post's efforts to accomplish this so desirable enterprise.
On the whole, although the hand of the Lord has been laid
heavily upon me in the removal of my beloved wife, I think

434 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I can see the Lord is on our side and will assuredly bless us
although He prepares the way by severe trials of our faith.
We will take courage and submit our whole cause to the
Lord and trust in Him for His future blessings by waiting
in the spirit of humble confidence for the openings of His
providences. Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.
Received May 25, 1854.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Apr. 7th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc, New York.
Dear Brother Hill:

Last week, at the request of Br. Newell, our teacher of
music, formerly from New York, I visited Portland, with a
view of stirring up their minds to immediate action on the
s'lbject of raising the standard in that place, preached on
Wednesday evening to a large congregation in the Congre-
gational house, and visited Wednesday in the afternoon and
Thursday morning with the members. I found the following
members, some of whom you know personally: Br. Josiah
Failing, formerly deacon in the 10th St. Church, New York,
his wife, two sons and a daughter; Br. Coe,^^^ formerly
postal agent for Oregon, and wife ; Br. Leland, Postmaster
at Portland, and wife ; Br. Simmonds, merchant, and wife,
from Boston, . . . Sister Burnell, from Ninth Street
Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, an enterprising, intelligent sister
(her husband is in the steam saw mill business), and Sister
Hosier, a widow, in the millinery and fancy clothing busi-
ness. Since I left, I learn that Br. Pine and wife from San
Francsco have located there. Br. Pine is in merchandising
and he and wife come highly recommended as active young
Baptist members. I have little doubt there are other Baptist
members in the city who would co-operate with the church
if one should be constituted. Really they have double the

346 This was Nathaniel Coe (1788-1868). He was appointed postal agent for
Oregon in 1851. He later settled near the present Hood River. — Bancroft, Hist, of
Ore., 11:189.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 435

numbers and quadruple the ability the church at Oregon
City had before our late revival. I urged upon the leading
members to establish weekly religious meetings for prayer
and conference, look directly to God for His blessing and
then make their wants known to the Home Missionary
Society's Board. I am satisfied that, with a comfortable
place of worship and a good, faithful, acceptable minister,
the Baptists might expect, under God, to exert as much
influence in the place and prosper as much as any religious
denomination now in Portland. I felt peculiarly impressed
that now is the time to strike in Portland. There seemed
to be a good religious atmosphere with the brethren and
especially with the sisters. They want to see the standard
raised there, but they say they must have a house and a
minister at once and build their own houses, and they say
they do not see how this all is to be done unless they can
get more fo»"eign aid than they can re?sonably expect. 1
urged them to make their wants known to you as soon as
they could get to understand what they wanted and what
they can do. They said they would call a meeting soon
and deliberate on the subject. I assured Br. Failing that I
should be down and stir them up in five or six weeks, if
they did not act promptly in the mean time.

This is the most important place in the territory to be
occupied by the Baptists, after Oregon City, and, but for
our educational interests, it would be much the most import-
ant place of the two, at least at present. A minister ought
to be appointed forthwith to that place with a salary of $700
to $800. A man worth that money to that place would build
a house in one year there, hard as the times are, with three
or four hundred dollars from the building funds of the Home
Mission Society, if he went to his work trusting alone in
the Owner of the Universe and the Disposer of men's hearts,
and money too. God grant that you may find the man and
put him into that field. Portland is the New York for
Oregon at present, at least for the trade of the Willamette
and Columbia River valleys. My soul is pained when I

436 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

think of the delays of the Home Mission Society to occupy
this town, or I might say city, and Oregon City. I trust
we shall soon see Br. Cramb, and that a man of God will
soon be on his way for Portland.

Yours in the bonds of the gospel,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — I shall order you to pay three or four dollars to
the editor of the Mothers' Journal soon, also to pay my
subscription for the Christian Chronicle to the end of the
present year.
Received May 25, 1854.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., June 17th.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Br. Hill:

Yours of Apr. 3d, announcing my reappointment, and one
a few days later, condoling me on account of my late
bereavement and answering my request to remain at Oregon
City a few months, came duly to hand. I now take my pen
to present before your Board the importance of immediately
occupying Portland, but before stating my views I would
refer you to Br. Taggert, Br. Failing's old pastor, for infor-
mation on that subject, as I understand that he has written a
long letter to said Taggert, giving a general view of things
in Portland. Br. Failing was deacon in 10th St. Church,
N. Y. There sometimes are times in the history of a town
in the new portions of our great missionary field where it
really seems that things form a crisis, and one opportune
movement of a religious denomination may give them all
the advantage of years of hard labor in establishing a per-
manent interest. Such appears to be the door now opened
in Portland.

I have it from the Methodist minister in charge at Port-
land that he wonders why the Baptists do not occupy
Portland. Why, he says that the Baptists have more wealth
and influence in Portland today than any other denomina-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 437

tion of Christians. Yet the Methodists have expended within
the last four years more than $8,000 on that place and the
Congregational Church have had a stated ministry in the
place almost five years.^^'' Yet all the Baptist preaching
they have had has not exceeded thirty-five or forty sermons,
and that mostly by myself. I can now sit and enumerate
17 Baptist members in Portland, five of whom are in Br.
Failing's family, two in Br. Coe's, our former postal agent,
two in Br. Leland's family, the post master of the place and
a graduate of Brown's University, and others of respectable
standing in Baptist^ churches in Boston, Cincinnati and San
Francisco. But they feel now that they must have a minister
on the ground adapted to secure an influence and then they
can commence and build a house by the aid of the amount
they might receive from the building fund connected with
the Home Mission cause. They say it is no use to do
anything by way of monthly preaching in other denomina-
tions' houses. It is labor bestowed to build up other
churches and hold back the very cause most dear to us as
Baptists. Br. Failing says (and what he says they all say,
and I suppose he says what Br. Thomas in your city thinks),
that, if the Home Mission Society will send them a suitable
man and pay him $600 salary, the people of Portland will
do the rest. I say there is no doubt they will pay from $100
to $200. The man should be adapted to carry along at
once the work of building a good house of worship. Br.
Failing will be active in the work. It would be very desir-
able that such a man should be appointed as would meet
the approbation of Br. Thomas, and especially the approba-
tion of the Lord Jesus Christ. I do not believe such a man
can be sustained in that place for less than $800 per annum.

Yours,

E. FISHER.
Respecting Br. Post, I think all things are about right and
trust his school will give him a support. This school has

347 Rev. Horace Lyman, who had come to Portland in 1849, was settled there
until the spring of 1854. The church building was dedicated in 1851. — Bancroft,
Hist, of Ore., 11:679, 680.

438 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

averaged 40 scholars since the first two weeks. We are
finishing the building as fast as we can in these hard times
for money, while I am detained at Oregon City. I shall
write you immediately on the close of the meeting of the
association, which takes place next week.

As ever yours in Christ Jesus,

EZRA FISHER.
Oregon City, June 17th, 1854.
N. B. — I sent you a bill for goods to be filled by you,
I think in the month of February. I have heard nothing
from you on that subject yet and am becoming somewhat
anxious, as the first bill forwarded in October was lost and
my family supplies are becoming pretty well exhausted. I
think I shall hear from you however by the next mail on
that subject. If my second bill has not been received please
inform me immediately. Yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received July 24.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., July 8th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

The Willamette Baptist Association closed its sessions
last week on Monday. The sessions were harmonious in
the main and exhibited strong evidence that the churches
are becoming more impressed with the importance of a
devoted ministry and of united Christian effort for the
suppression of vice and the diffusion of the gospel of Christ.
During the last associational year most of our older churches
have enjoyed pleasing revivals and the account of the Chris-
tian character of the young members is truly pleasing. The
churches have received by baptism since the last anniversary
106.^*^ Four small churches were received into the associa-
tion this year. Our net increase is 197, and our total number

345 At least one of these men, Rev. A. J. Hunsaker, became a minister. Another,
C. C. Sperry, who had been previously baptized, but who was aroused in 1853, was
later ordained. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:106, 108.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 439

442. The association raised a subscription of $165 to employ
a man to travel and preach in Lane County, which lies at
the head of the Willamette Valley and north of the Cala-
pooia Mountains. $60.50 was paid on the spot. On Sabbath
a collection of $13.10 was taken up for the same object.
Elder Robert D. Gray^'^^ was employed to enter that field
immediately. In this field is one small, languishing church,
and there are now materials for one or two churches which
we trust our missionary will organize the present season.'''*^
Br. Gray will be kept in the field till winter, perhaps the
entire year. In addition to the above named funds, we have
$7.00 in the treasury designated to the preaching of the
Word in this valley. The churches in Yamhill and Polk
counties have agreed to sustain Br. Riley''^° the coming year
to travel in those counties, supply monthly the three
churches in that field and spend the remainder of the time
in supplying destitute settlements a part of the time. During
the sessions of the association reports were made on the
subjects of establishing a religious press in Oregon and on
ways and means for supplying our churches and destitute
towns and settlements with preaching. Resolutions were
passed favoring the general objects of the denomination,
such as the Home Mission cause. Publication Society, the
Sunday school effort and the circulation of religious periodi-
cals. During the time, the friends of education held a meet-
ing in which an informal report of the trustees of the
Oregon City College was made. The school was found to
be in a prosperous condition under the tuition of Rev. J. D.
Post. Since Professor Post entered upon his labors, it was
found that the average number of scholars in attendance
was 40. By the treasurer's report, it was found that $4611.13
had been collected and expended on the building for the

348 Rev. R. D. Gray (1850-1871) was born in Tennessee and came to Oregon
from Arkansas in 1853. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:105.

349 The existing church was the Willamette Forks Church, which had been
organized in 1852. Two others, the Palestine and the Mount Zion churches were
organized later in 1854. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:16.

350 This was Rev. Cleveland C. Riley. He was born in Tennessee and came
to Oregon from Missouri in 1853, settling near the I,aCreole Church. — Mattoon,
Bap. An. of Ore., 1:100.

440 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

school since the commencement of the work, and that the
building was about $150 in debt. A resolution was passed
recommending the trustees to complete the building as soon
as practicable. On Thursday, before the meeting of the
association, an interesting ministers' meeting was held, a
constitution and rules of decorum for a permanent organiza-
tion adopted and the ministers' meeting regularly organized to
meet annually, the day preceding the meeting of the said
association. You will be furnished with the minutes of the
association as soon as printed. On the whole, while we
deplore the miserable inadequacy of ministerial talent appro-
priated and the almost entire destitution of Baptist preaching
in most of our important towns, we are led to rejoice with
exceeding great joy that the progress of the cause of our
blessed Redeemer is onward and we trust the time is not
far removed when all churches will be supplied with an
efficient, devoted ministry, and flourishing churches will be
raised up in all our growing towns. For this we will labor
on and sacrifice and pray till the good Lord shall make our
Zion a name and a praise in the land.

Affectionately yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Aug. 12, 1854.

Oregon City, O. Ter., July 19th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

Yours of May 30th was received by the last mail. No
doubt God's providences are all right. Yet we are so short-
sighted creatures that we often wish for the time they might
be otherwise. I seriously regret that Br. Cramb is delayed
till fall. It appears to me that it is a final failure, yet we
may be as happily disappointed in his case as we were in
Br. Post's. I will not despair of his coming till I am
obliged to give up all hope. But how shall I dispose of my
time in the mean time ? It seems exceedingly desirable that

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 441

T be among the churches and new settlements through the
fall months during the time of their yearly meetings, most
of which come off in Sept. and Oct. The rising towns on
the Columbia River, from its mouth to The Dalles, just at
the east base of the Cascade Mountains, should be visited ;
and then there is Pugets Sound in Washington Ter., which
I have promised you that I would visit this season, and
then the church in this place, and the outdoor work for the
school should be attended to immediately. It seems to me
that I cannot stay at home any longer. If there is any
prospect that your Society can occupy the Sound by two
practical, common sense, pious ministers, I would not fail
to explore that region this fall. But if I must spend six
or eight weeks of the best of the season in exploring the
country, perhaps preach twelve or fifteen sermons and leave
the territory two years more before a man is sent to break
up the ground and preach the gospel of the Kingdom, it
would seem that we had better attempt to cultivate the
already too wide and neglected field in the Willamette
Valley. In the absence of any positive instruction from you'
on the subject, I shall try and look to the Great Head of the
church for direction, and you will not be surprised to hear
from me in Washington Ter. in six or eight weeks after the
receipt of this. I may be able to receive all the reliable
intelligence necessary to enable me to give you a general
view of the demands of that very important portion of the
country, but as yet I have nothing reliable since I last
wrote you on that subject. The Dalles is fast coming into
importance and, although at this time there is not more than
one hundred or one hundred and fifty white people in its
vicinity, it is an important trading point and must ever be
the key to the whole country of the Columbia River above
the Cascade Mountains, and at no distant day must become
a populous city. At this time there are five dry goods
stores at that place. I think I shall try and visit that place
this fall, while the immigrants are there, and spend one or
two Sabbaths. This place has such a commanding position

442 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

that I know of no place where an effort will be so sure to
be attended with permanent results. Another important
town will rise up at the Cascade Falls of the Columbia, 40
miles below The Dalles, and at the head of ship navigation
on the Columbia. Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
July 19th, 1854.
Dear Brother Hill :

I am in need of some funds to defray my traveling and
family expenses and have an opportunity of exchanging $150
or $200 with Brother Post by drawing an order on you.
I have therefore agreed to make the exchange with Br. J. D.
Post. The order will probably be drawn in favor of Br.
Pike, the manufacturer of mathematical instruments in N. Y.
I shall send the order in two or three weeks. When you
send me the bill of the goods, please let me know how my
account stands on your books.

Yours respectfully,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Aug. 24.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Sept. 26th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Society.
Dear Brother:

As yet I have heard nothing from the goods I ordered you
to put up for me, except a line from you stating that you
would fill the bill and ship the goods the first opportunity.
It is now almost a year since I made the first order. My
family had depended upon them for their summer clothing
and now we are looking with anxiety for them for our
winter supply. We fear the bill of lading has been miscar-
ried. I have heard nothing from you, except by the Record,
for two months. Please inform me at your earliest conveni-
ence whether you have shipped the goods ; also when we
may expect them, if they are not already shipped. I presume
you have done as well as you could in this matter, but, if I

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 443

could have anticipated the results, I think I should not have
ordered the goods, but made my drafts and clothed my
family here. But no doubt God designs all for the best. . . .
Your unworthy brother in Christ,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — The yearly meetings w^ill soon be over for this
season. You will then hear from me respecting our towns ;
also respecting Washington Territory, or I shall visit and
report by actual explorations. Yet our brethren here are
very unwilling to have me leave the Willamette Valley, in
view of the great scarcity of laborers and the pressing calls
from the churches and destitute places where important
Baptist interests might be built up if we had the laborers.

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Nov. 10.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Oct. 1st, 1854.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother:

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
the 2d quarter ending September 30th, 1854.

I have visited the LaCreole Church in Polk County, ten
miles west of Salem, Santiam Church, Lynn Co., 35 miles
south of Salem, and Yamhill Church, 7 miles west of
Lafayette, seat of justice for Yam Hill County and 40 miles
southwest from Oregon City. Traveled 205 miles to and
from my appointments. Have labored 13 weeks during the
quarter. Have collected $5.50, it being a collection taken up
in the Oregon City Church on the first Sabbath in July.
Paid for traveling expenses $1.50; for postage $.25. Preached
30 sermons. Have attended three yearly meetings in the
above-named churches, all of which were blessed with more

444 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

than usual manifestations of Divine favor.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

^ ^ ^ ^

P. S. — I have made out this report on the 26th of Sept.
on account of my leaving tomorrow for a yearly meeting on
the Calapooia River with the Pleasant Butte Church,'^^^
Lynn County, 42 miles south of Salem.

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Oct. 1st, 1854.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Br.:

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant
for the second quarter ending the 20th day of Sept., 1854.

I have labored thirteen weeks in the quarter ; preached
30 sermons ; attended 10 prayer meetings, three church
covenant meetings; spent three weeks wholly in three yearly
meetings, preaching, praying and exhorting as the cause of
Christ seemed to demand; visited religiously 51 families
and other persons ; traveled 205 miles to and from my
appointments. In connection with the labors of my asso-
ci'ates in the ministry, 1 has been baptized into the Santiam
Church, 22 into the LaCreole Church and 4 received by
letter, and 4 were baptized into the Yam Hill Church, all of
whom were baptized by the respective pastors of said
churches. There have been 30 cases of hopeful conversions
in these churches. I have visited the LaCreole Church in
Polk Co., ten miles west of Salem, Santiam Church, 35
south of Salem, Lynn Co., and Yam Hill Church, 7 miles
west of Lafayette, the seat of justice for Yam Hill Co. The

351 The Pleasant Rutte Church, Linn County, was organized Nov. 16, 1853, by
Rev. G. C. Chandler and others. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:16.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 445

church at Oregon City sustains the monthly concert of
prayer and have taken monthly collections at the same,
amounting to about $9.00. The church at Oregon City took
up a collection on the first Sabbath in July of $5.50 for the
Home Mission Society. Sabbath schools, one with the
Oregon City Church, the same as last quarter reported, one
with the LaCreole Church.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.
Received Nov. 10.

Oregon City, Oct. 8th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother :

Yours of Sept. 18th containing your account with me, also
a bill of goods sent me by the Am. Bapt. Home Mission
Society Sept. 6th, amounting to $466.66, with a bill of lading
for six boxes and two barrels of merchandise, were received
by the last mail. Was very glad to learn that they are on
the way. Since I last wrote I have visited West Tualatin
Church and spent nearly a week with the Shilo Church on
a council called on account of difficulties existing between

Elder and the majority of the church on one hand and

the minority of the church on the other. Br. had been

quite imprudent and serious charges were preferred against
him, but with not sufficient proof to induce the council to
recommend his being deposed from the ministry.^^^ After
three days' and two nights' hard labor, the council gave
their advice to the church and all the parties concerned,
which resulted in an amicable adjustment of all difficulties.
We have felt the necessity of our church members under-
standing and practicing gospel discipline in case of difficul-
ties before they come before the church. Our Divine Master

352 This was Rev. William M. Davis. Shortly after the first council here
mentioned, a second council was called, which urged drastic action, and the church
entirely repudiated him. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:10.

446 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

has condescended to give us the most simple and yet the
most perfect rules for discipline either in private trespasses
or public immorality.

Yours with sentiments of Christian affection,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Dec. 26.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Oct. 17th, 1854.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. Bap. Home Mission Society.
Dear Brother:

I have just returned from the yearly meeting of the
Pleasant Butte Church, seventy-five miles up the valley
from this place and thirty-five south of Salem. This church,
like all our churches, is located in the heart of a flourishing
country admirably adapted to grazing and the growing of
wheat, corn, oats and all kinds of vegetables and fruits
adapted to this climate. I spent ten days with the church,
preaching Saturdays and Sabbaths and one sermon each
night. The meetings were interesting, but not attended with
the same results as last year. During the meeting six were
added by letter, one was received for baptism, there were
two hopeful cases of conversion and four or five others were
manifestly interested in their souls' welfare. Br. Wm.
Sperry is the pastor with whom I have labored. This chvirch
has a flourishing Sabbath school and meets every Sabbath
for preaching or prayer. The converts of last year appear
very well. The church will probably hire a man and put
him on Br. Sperry's farm the coming year and by this means
mostly liberate him to the work of the ministry in that
church and vicinity. This is much better than the entire
neglect of the ministry. This closes up our yearly meetings
till the opening of the spring. I had hoped that I should
have been able to give particular attention to Washington
Ter. at the close of this meeting, but there are two pressing
calls, one in Washington County and the other in Marion,
twelve miles south of Salem, which are obviously more

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 447

immediately important than the exploration of Washington
Ter. at this season of the year. Our brethren here urge a
delay of the exploration of that territory till another season.
So also the Methodist minister^^^ who has charge of that
district advises. I am collecting facts relative to the region
of Pugets Sound and shall be able to give you a pretty
general view of the relative importance of that country in
three or four weeks. My present impressions are that the
Baptist cause in that region is not suffering so much for
the want of immediate attention as the more populous parts
of Oregon and California are. Here we have numbers of
organized churches, which must be visited occasionally, and
of settlements where churches might be constituted if they
could have the encouragement of preaching four Sabbaths
in a year, and for want of which labors our members are
either lying still or joining Methodist and Cumberland
Presbyterian churches. I visited Salem on my return from
Pleasant Butte Church last week. Find Salem, the capital
of the Ter., with a population of about 1200 souls, with a
Methodist Episcopal church and a good house of worship,
a protestant Methodist church and house nearly finished, an
Episcopal house completed and a Congregational church and
house completed. Found but five Baptist members in the
place and but one of them who can be considered permanent.
There are two members probably permanently located two
miles from the town who wish to promote the cause in
town. The whole surrounding country is settled mostly on
section claims one mile square. The place must have a
rapid growth. There is no doubt but a man if sent there
and supported would call a small congregation around him,
if his talent were popular and piety undoubted, with good,
sound common sense, and he might hope to see his congre-
gation increase with the growth of the place. Besides, a
good substantial, efficient minister located there would do
good service through the whole surrounding country with
its four Baptist churches. Salem certainly should not be

353 This was Rev. John F. De Vore.— G. H. Himes.

448 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

long neglected by your Society. Some aid no doubt could
be obtained from the surrounding churches towards sustain-
ing an effective minister in that place. Yet most of a
minister's salary would have to come from home, and it
would require from $600 to $800 to give a family of ordinary
size an annual support. I have no doubt but the expenditure
for such an appointment would be judicious, if your Board
can sustain such a man there after supporting the suffering
cause at Portland and Oregon City, both of which places
are probably in greater need of a minister than Salem.
Portland has some permanent and able supporters. At
Oregon City is our school for the Territory. All our towns
are subject to frequent changes, yet they are towns, and will
continue to be places of trade from which an influence will
be continually going out into the surrounding country and
into tbe whole world. A minister's Sabbaths should mostly
be spent in town unless he can have his place filled occasion-
ally by proxy, or little can be effected by the side of other
organized churches with a stated Sabbath ministry.

As ever yours,

EZRA FISHER.

* * * *

Received Nov. 25.

Oregon City, Ore. Ter., Nov. 8th, 1854.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Soc, New York.
Dear Br. Hill:

This is to inform you that Rev. William F. Boyakin,^-^^
formerly from Carrolton, Illinois, and late of St. Joseph,
Missouri, arrived in Portland about the tenth of October
with his family. Since that time he has been preaching to
the scattered Baptist brethren in that place. I visited Port-
land three weeks since on a tour west and south. Found he
was making a favorable impression on the minds of the

354 Rev. W. F. Boyakin helped to organize the Portland Church in May, 1855.
In 1856 he moved to Corvallis at the invitation of the church there. — Mattoon, Bap.
An. of Ore., 1:11, 14. Mattoon says he was from Mississippi.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 449

Baptist members and the public ; gave them some advice.
Since my return Br. Boyakin has preached in this place.
He informs me that the Baptist members have invited him
to labor with them in Portland for one year and that they
have agreed to ask the Home Mission Society to appoint him
as their missionary to Portland for one year with a salary
of $800, $200 of which the people pledge themselves they
will pay. They therefore ask your Board to pay him $600
of the $800. I have the impression that your acquaintance
with Br. Boyakin's reputation as a preacher is better than
mine. I think he has been favorably known, both in Illinois
and Missouri, as an effective Baptist preacher. I think from
the short acquaintance I have with him that he is well
adapted to get up an interest in Portland. He commends
himself at once to the people as an eloquent man well
acquainted with that form of human nature which develops
itself in our rising towns in the West. He seems to have
the true missionary spirit. Should he continue to wear as
he now promises, we have no man in Oregon so well adapted
to that field as he is. I think he will need $800 salary to
support his family (of 7 persons I believe) in Portland. I
think the people will supply $200 of the salary, probably not
more the first year. Br. Boyakin is poor, having expended
almost all his means in reaching the field, seems desirous
of trying what he can do in Portland and I am now im-
pressed favorably with the thought that the Lord has
directed him in a very favorable time to his appropriate field
of labor. He is calling a good congregation to a school-
house which the brethren have fitted up temporarily as a
place of worship. As it relates to the importance of the
place, you hardly need any further information. Portland
is the principal port for Oregon at present, numbering
probably about 2000 souls, with from 30 to 50 trading houses,
wholesale and retail, and must, for years at least, be the
most commercial town in the Territory. When the resources
of the country are developed, I think the great commercial
city of the Columbia River will be somewhere below the

450 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

mouth of the Willamette River, yet Portland will even then
be an important point. By a reference to the map of the
surveyed parts of Oregon, you will see that it is 14 miles
above the mouth of the Willamette in the heart, or rather
at the foot, of one of the most fertile portions of country in
North America. Our country is fast filling up and, although
at present the influence of the Nebraska and Kansas move-
ments may for two or three years somewhat retard our
onward progress, ^^^ yet I think the immigration will be
checked only to flow in more abundantly when the Nebras-
kan excitement shall have worked its discontent among the
early settlers to that territory. I trust your Board will be
prompt in making the appointment and may God in His
infinite mercy bless to the building up of a strong interest
in Portland and the surrounding country.

With much esteem, your unworthy brother,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — Br. Boyakin, in behalf of the brethren in Portland,
will make the application stating the time they will wish
the appointment to take effect.
Received Dec. 26.

Oregon City, O. Ten, Jan. 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Society:
Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
the third quarter ending the thirty-first day of Dec, 1854.
During the quarter I have visited Portland twice, the Cas-
cades in Washington Ter., The Dalles, east of the Cascade
Mountains, West Union Church, West Tualatin Church
twice, Shilo Church and a settlement of unorganized Baptists
near the junction of the Columbia and Sandy rivers in
Clackamas County; labored 13 weeks; traveled to and from
my appointments 617 miles; paid nine dollars eighty-two cents

355 The Kansas-Nebraska Act of May, 1854, organized these territories and
left the question of slavery to the vote of the settlers. This led to a large immi-
gration to these regions from both North and South.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 451

($9.82) for traveling expenses and eighteen cents ($0.18) for
postage ; preached 20 sermons. I attended a council in case
of difficulty of a serious kind in which I labored three days
and almost two nights, with but six hours' intermission.
The result of our labors seemed blessed under God in restor-
ing union to the distracted church.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bapt. Home Mission Soc. :
Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant for
the 3rd quarter ending the 31st day of Dec, 1854. I have
labored thirteen weeks in the quarter ; preached 20 sermons ;
attended six prayer meetings, two church covenant meetings
and one council of three days ; visited religiously fifty-four
families and other persons, one common school ; traveled
to and from my appointments six hundred and seventeen
miles. Connected with the churches I have visited are three
Sabbath schools, one in Pleasant Butte Church on Calapooia
River, Lynn Co., one in West Union Church, Washington
County, 'and one in Oregon City, numbering each about
twenty-five scholars and four teachers.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.
Received Feb. 9.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 15th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Society.
Dear. Br.:

I take my pen to give you a brief account of my late tour
from this place to The Dalles, a rising town and a military

452 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

post on the Columbia near the east base of the Cascade
Mountains.

I left home on the 17th of Nov. and traveled twenty-two
miles north to the mouth of the Sandy, a stream nearly as
large as the Mohawk, which rises in the eternal snows of
Mount Hood and flows into the Columbia at the west base
of the Cascade Range, twenty-five miles west from the
celebrated Cascade Falls. Having failed of reaching the
Columbia in time to take the regular steamer, I was detained
several days till the next trip of the boat. Here I found
between fifteen and twenty Baptist members, including an
aged minister (Br. Bond), with an enfeebled wife for many
years mostly confined to her bed. They are scattered
through a fertile, timbered, undulating country eight or ten
miles from north to south and perhaps half that distance
from east to west. Br. Bond is preaching what he can while
laboring with all his powers to obtain a comfortable support
for himself and helpless family. These brethren occupy
prospectively one of the most important country positions
in all Oregon, but at present they have to contend with all
the inconveniences of removing forests of enormous growth
before they can reap a harvest from their generous soil.
However, they will soon be placed above want and probably
abound in the farmer's wealth. A church will be constituted
here in the coming spring, if not before. This point is more
promising than many fields in the Mississippi Valley where
labor and money are expended by missionary societies.

The following week I took the steamer and visited The
Cascades, a town site, with eight or ten families scattered
on the north bank of the Columbia for a distance of three
miles from the head to the foot of the Cascade Falls, about
midway of the Cascade Mountains, from east to west. These
families have resorted here for matters of speculation and,
with few exceptions, manifest less desire for the bread of
eternal life than for the mammon of unrighteousness. This
is the great natural gateway through the Cascade Mountains
and must at no distant day become a place of great com-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 453

mercial and manufacturing importance, it being the head of
ship navigation to the Columbia and there being a vast
region of the best grazing country in North America on the
Cokimbia and its hundred tributaries, which must soon be
put in requisition to graze the cattle and horses of Oregon
and Washington territories. Occasionally through the sum-
mer a Methodist circuit preacher has visited and preached
in this place. Here I found one pious Methodist sister and
one or two Campbellite members. The country on the north
bank of the Columbia is now settled with families and
bachelors most of the way from this place to Vancouver, a
distance of forty-five miles.

The next week I took the steamer^^e {qj- fj^g Dalles ;
ascended the broad, deep Columbia twenty-five miles to the
mouth of Dog River,357 a considerable stream tumbling down
with great rapidity from the snowy sides of Mt. Hood.
Here I found Br. Coe, late postal agent for Oregon, and
wife. This settlement consists of three white families, but
will soon be swollen to fifty or 100. The steamer having
left me, on the 29th of November, to save a week's delay
and an exorbitant price for an Indian and horses, I took my
post-bags and traveling apparel on my back at ten A. M.
and took the emigrant trail, which lay over high mountains
and through deep defiles, and, although the thawing of the
frozen ground coming in constant contact with my India
rubber boots rendered the traveling exceedingly slpipery,
I reached the first settlement, three miles from The Dalles,
a distance of eighteen miles, at four P. M.., unusually
fatigued, yet grateful to the gracious Giver for strength to
perform even the physical labors of a pioneer missionary.
I found twenty-four families, including three or four of the
officers and soldiers, in this place and vicinity, beside a
number of white men who had married Indian women and

356 This steamboat was probably the "Mary," the first steamer to run between
the Cascades and The Dalles. — Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Idaho and Mont., p. 145.

357 This is the present Hood River. It was called Dog Creek, because in the
early forties some immigrants camping there were reduced to dog meat for food. —
G. H. Himes.

454 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

some thirty or forty single men in trade and farming, and
gambling, as I had good reason to suppose.^^^ Here are
stationed two or three companies of government troops to
defend our frontiers from Indian invasion. Here also are
constantly a considerable number of Indians, amounting to
forty or fifty families, who dwell here and cultivate small
fields of potatoes, corn and melons. Here too the Roman
Catholic Church have a mission established with the Indians
and have set up their claim to 640 acres of land for the
mission, immediately below the town and extending almost
to the river bank.''^^

The soil in the vicinity of The Dalles is generally a loamy
sand, mixed with vegetable mould and decomposed rocks
of various kinds, some of w'hich appear to contain consider-
able quantities of alkalies, in some places so much so as to
prevent the growth of vegetation, except a kind of wild rye
which grows with great luxuriance where the alkalies destroy
all the ordinary grass. This soil must hereafter become very
rich manures for lands requiring alkalies. Potatoes, onions,
beets, cabbage, squashes, melons, wheat, oats, peas, etc.,
have all been successfully raised here.

The river from the head of The Cascades to this place is
broad and sufficiently deep for the largest class of steamers
and the current very gentle. This must be the great place
of trade for all the upper Columbia country in all future
time, unless a railroad should be constructed through this
great valley to Pugets Sound, and in that event a branch
will come down the Columbia to this place.

At this place I find two persons who have been Baptists
. . The same Methodist missionary circuit preacher
who has visited The Cascades has visited this place a few-
times the past summer. The people here desire the labors
of a good Protestant preacher, but as yet they are entirely
uncommitted. An efficient, common-sense minister should

358 See note 309.

359 This claim of the Roman Catholics was later set aside. They were, how-
ever, allowed to retain about half an acre of ground for a building site. — Bancroft,
Hist, of Ore., 11:292.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 455

be placed here to labor at this place and The Cascades. He
would occupy emphatically a missionary post which will be
a post of observation. It will prove to the great Columbia
Valley what St. Louis or Chicago is to the Mississippi
Valley. True it is small now, but it will soon be the key
to hundreds of millions of wealth and millions of souls. I
spent two Sabbaths at this place, preached to attentive con-
gregations and received the most cordial hospitality of the
citizens. Will your Board send a man to The Dalles and
for once occupy an important post first among Protestants
— one who may be able to work by the side of Romans, who
are doing what they can?

I shall soon attempt to give you what information I have
collected from Washington Ter. ; also make one more earnest
appeal for Oregon City and other parts of the Willamette
Valley.

Yours as ever with high esteem,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
Received Feb. 26.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Jan. 18th, 1855.
To the Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Society, New York.
Dear Brother Hill :

I shall be obliged to draw an order on you for $200 or
$300 in favor of Abernathy, Clarke and Co., or Josiah Failing
& Co. at Portland, in three or four weeks, as I am now
straitened for funds to keep up my ordinary family and
traveling expenses. I am also expecting to hear from the
goods, which you shipped on the Wild Ranger for San
Francisco, by every mail and I have not the means to pay
the freight from San Francisco to this place. I send this
that you may have at least two weeks' notice before the
order is presented. I gave Br. J. D. Post an order of $150
on you sometime last summer or autumn, but have never
heard from it since; but presume it is paid. If that is paid,

456 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

I suppose there will be due me, after you receive my last
report, which was made out and forwarded the first day of
this month, about $420. I have received $13 from the Baptist
Church in this place (Oregon City), and wish you to send
twenty (20) copies of the Home Mission Record, twenty
(20) copies of the American Messenger, twenty (20) copies
of the Macedonian and one (1) copy of the Missionary
Magazine, all postpaid, to Willi'am C. Johnson, Oregon City,
if that amount will meet all the expenses ; if not, send equal
numbers of the Record and Macedonian, fewer of the
American Messenger and one copy of the Missionary Maga-
zine and prepay the postage, applying $13 on these, no more
and no less. Charge the same to my account. Also pay
B. R. Soxley, Philadelphia, one dollar ($1) for Mrs. Mary
Winston, Oregon City; also one dollar for Mrs. Rebecca
Fanno, Portland, for the Mothers' Journal and Family
Visitant and charge the same to my account. Will you see
that this is promptly paid, as they wish to have their
Mothers' Journal continued.
Received Feb. 26.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Feb. 8th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Society, Nassau St.,
New York.
Dear Brother:

I take this opportunity to write you a few lines on
matters in general. And first, our good people in Portland
are about making an effort to build a house for public
worship,2^° and today the ladies of that place make a dinner
as the first effort in furtherance of that important work.
As they commence the work in feasting, I hope they will
complete it in praying. The church in Oregon City have
been employing a temporary supply, or rather receiving it,
since I left their service last June, but are about making an

360 The building was not actually begun until 1861. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore.,
1:140.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 457

effort to secure the labors of a man in Oregon, if they can,
and ask the Home Missionary Society to aid them in his
support, as they feel that there is great uncertainty in
obtaining a man soon from the States. Oh, that the Lord
would raise up faithful laborers and send a few to our
Pacific borders! We are in perishing need of faithful pas-
toral labors throughout our churches. We must pray and
try to raise up ministers in Oregon. I wish we had a well
endowed school, manned with two or three good pious pro-
fessors, to which we could direct our young men who desire
to serve God with singleness of heart. But money is now
scarce, though this is not half so alarming as the fact that
so few of our brethren take a comprehensive view of our
wants and the true remedy. We must educate our ministry
on the Pacific slope, and I am beginning to think that we
are more able than willing. But this business must be
accomplished by "line upon line." We cannot do this work
at once, but we must not cease doing till this is done ; then
we shall support a pious, intelligent, efficient ministry. Our
seat of government is removed from Salem to Corvallis,
about thirty miles farther up the Willamette River.^"
Corvallis was formerly called Marysville, the county seat for
Benton County. The Territorial University is removed from
Corvallis to Jacksonville, county seat of Jackson County.
Now we have an able church at Corvallis and I think we
should make immediate effort to put in operation a high
school at that place. I shall leave tomorrow with a view of
visiting two or three churches in that vicinity. I shall feel
of the public pulse, as it beats through some of our leading
men, on the subject of bringing up an educational interest
at the seat of government. We all think an enterprise of
this kind will in no way operate prejudicially to our school
at Oregon City, but rather favorably. As to the question
of your removal from the Bible house, I hope the Society

361 The legislature of the winter of 1854-5 changed the capital from Salem to
Corvallis and fhe university from Corvallis to Jacksonvdle The -pf 1 was re
located at Salem late in 185S -Bancroft. Hist, of Ore II :351 352. /he legislature
of 1855-6 repealed all acts locating the university.— F. G. Young, l-inancial Hist,
of Ore. in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar., VIII :162.

4S« CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

will let the good brethren in New York build you a good
mission house, if that will end the unhappy strife.^^^ What
is $40,000 or $100,000, as an offset to an unhappy division?

Yours,

EZRA FISHER.

Received March 24.

Oregon City, O. Ten, March 5th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Society.
Dear Brother :

About three weeks since I drew an order on you in favor
of George Abernathy & Co. to the amount of $300. This I
did, as I have done a few instances before, on account of
our great distance. The long delays, after making our quar-
terly reports, if we must first wait till we can get drafts
from New York before we can draw on your treasury, some-
times subject us to great inconvenience. As in the present
case, I had ordered a year's supply of clothing for my family
a year ago last October (I think). The bill was lost in
the ocean ; a second order was made in about four months.
The filling of the bill was no doubt necessarily delayed by
the sickness of yourself and family. The goods were ship-
ped almost a full year after the first bill was mailed at
Oregon City, and last week I received three boxes and two
barrels, a part only of the goods. I hope to hear from the
balance in two or three weeks. But in this case my available
means were used up, the money has been earned and the
labor reported. I consequently made a draft on you, al-
though it is out of your ordinary way of doing business. I
trust your Board will pay the order and indulge me again
under similar circumstances. I have received for religious
periodicals the following sums which I wish you to pay

362 In 1853 a serious discussion arose in the Baptist Home Mission Society
over the acceptance from the American and Foreign Bible Society of rooms in its
new building on Nassau Street. Friends of the "Bible Union" opposed the accept-
ance and the trouble threatened to split the Home Mission Society. The rooms in
the A. & F. B. S. building were occupied until 1862. — Bap. Home Mis. in N. Am.,
1832-1882, p. 543.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 459

to the respective agents and charge the same to my account :
For the Mothers' Journal, from Hector Campbell, one dollar;
Mr. Campbell wishes his Journal discontinued. From Mrs.
Olive F. D. Ogle, one dollar; Mrs. Ogle is a new subscriber;
her post-office is Fairfield, Marion Co., O. Ter. For the Chris-
tian Chronicle, Philadelphia, from Thomas M. Read of
Marysville (now Corvallis), two dollars; he wishes his paper
stopped. For the New York Recorder, from John Robin-
son, Marysville (now Corvallis), two dollars and fifty cents.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.

March 6th. — I have just returned from a tour to the cen-
tral part of the valley. Visited Santiam church, Corvallis
(Marysville) church, Albany and French Prairie churches.
Our churches seem too well contented with monthly Sab-
baths and rest apparently satisfied with few pastoral labors
performed among them. The result is a want of spirituality,
too great a conformity to the world and a reliance almost
exclusively upon special meetings for seasons of refreshings
from the Most High. I spent some time in endeavoring to
ascertain the state of public sentiment relative to the ex-
pediency of establishing a school in the central part of the
valley. All seemed desirous of seeing such a work put in
successful operation, but as yet they have had no confer-
ence on the subject and want some effective man to take
the responsibility upon himself of planning and executing.
While this is being done, the Methodists, who have already
three high schools in the valley and one in Umpqua, will
step into Corvallis, the only important point now to be
occupied and raise up an important school and leave us with
the alternative of building up a high school at some unim-
portant post some six or eight years hence, or of raising a
rival school at their door. Now the influence and wealth
in the vicinity is Baptist more than any other denomination.
The Baptists have the only house of worship in the place.
The Methodists are making an effort to build a house of

460 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

worship.^^^ Lest they should not be able to drive all others
out, they obtained a charter for a high school in the place as
early as '51. The Presbyterians are looking to the place
for the location of a college. Their principal proprietor as-
sured me he would give a block of lots worth about $1000
for the site, if the Baptists would build a good high school.
Although the people in Oregon are almost destitute of money
and are much alarmed at the hard times, I think a building
worth from $2000 to $3000 could be built by the Baptists the
coming yeiar, if the brethren in the upper country would
see their interests in their true light, without materially af-
fecting the Oregon City College otherwise than favorably.
You may reasonably ask. Why trouble ourselves about an-
other school while the one at Oregon City can hardly live?
In the absence of a good common school system, evangelical
Christians have opened schools adapted to the wants of the
people, employed good, pious teachers, and by these schools
they wield a strong influence. If we remain inactive, we
must lose our hold on the confidence of the people and be
set down as inefficient ; besides, the sooner we can commit
the denomination to some benevolent enterprise the better
for them and the rising generation. They will do the more
for other work strictly of an evangelical character. Again,
I strongly think we must look to our churches for ou'
rising ministry on the Pacific borders before twenty years
roll around. The great question with me is, Ought the min-
isters now in the field and almost worn out to give any con-
siderable portion of their time to the cause of education,
while so much of our field lies waste for the want of faith-
ful. Godly ministers given wholly to preaching the Word?

Br. Chandler baptized two converts into the French Prairie
church Sabbath before last.

Aflfectionately yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received April 9.

363 The Methodists dedicated their church building in Corvallis in December,
1856. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., II :352.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 461

Oregon City, O. Ter., April 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother:

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant for
the 4th quarter ending March 31st, 1855. I have labored 13
weeks in this quarter; preached 15 sermons; attended 10
prayer meetings and four church meetings ; visited religious-
ly 45 families and other persons ; visited one common school ;
traveled to and from my appointments 307 miles. Two were
received into the French Prairie church by baptism under
the labors of Rev. George C. Chandler. Sabbath schools in
the territory are the same as last quarter. During the quar-
ter I have distributed about 2500 pages of tracts. Several
of our churches and congregations are beginning to study the
Bible by subjects and meet monthly to give their views of
the duties enjoined, such as the obligations of the Sabbath,
the duties of religious parents, etc. The churches generally
are training their young members as well as could be ex-
pected where but monthly Sabbaths are enjoyed. However,
many of the members visit from church to church, so that
perhaps they attend Baptist meetings two Sabbaths in a
month. The remaining time they either attend other meet-
ings or stay at home.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., April 1, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
the 4th quarter ending March 31st, 1855. I have visited
during the quarter Corvallis, Albany, Oregon City, Corvallis
church, French Prairie church, a settlement of Baptist breth-
ren five miles east of Albany, Lynn Co., who will soon be

462 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

constituted into a church; a settlement of Baptists on the
Molalla prairie, where are encouraging prospects ; Clackamas
church and Pleasant Butte church ; traveled 307 miles to and
from my appointments. I have labored 13 weeks during the
quarter; preached 15 sermons; paid for traveling expenses $2,
for postage 371/2 cents.

N. B. — The traveling has been unusually bad this winter
and my health, for three or four weeks of the first part of
the quarter, was not so good as usual in the winter. This
may account for the unusually small amount of labor I have
performed. I have labored under the influence of bronchitis
and dyspepsia. I have adopted a rigid system of diet and
hope to be able to perform my wonted labors the coming
season.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.
Exploring Agent.

Oregon City, Mar. 10th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill.
Dear Brother:

The church in Oregon City have invited Br. Johnson and
Br. J. D. Post to supply them the coming year and agreed
to give Br. Johnson $50 and Br. Post $75. Perhaps this
is the best they could do on the whole. But it falls far short
of meeting our wants. Br. Post's time is engrossed in his
school and the most he can do is to preach half the Sabbaths,
attend the weekly prayer meetings and perhaps visit a little
Saturdays in the afternoons. Br. Johnson will preach half
the Sabbaths, but does not contemplate visiting at all. You
will see by this that the church must be greatly neglected
in the pastoral relations. I hoped the cTiurch would have
chosen some man as their pastor and asked the Home Mis-
sionary Society to help in his support, so that he could give
himself to the ministry, or have asked your Board to send
them a minister and let him enter upon the work as a man
of God. Perhaps all is for the best. I do not yet see it so.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 463

I noticed in the January number of the Home Mission
Record a notice of my reappointment. I shall endeavor to
serve the Board to my best abihty through the summer and
fall at least, if my health will permit and God blesses. I
have received no letter from you for near three months.
Suppose one was lost on the Southerners^'* when wrecked. I
expect to spend most of the coming season with the churches
in the upper part of the v'alley and in Umpqua and Rogue
River valleys and, when in Rogue River Valley, I may cross
the Ciscue [Siskiyou] Mountains into Chasty [Shasta] Val-
ley, as it will be but about 25 miles from Rogue River Val-
ley and 125 from the settlement in the Sacramento Valley.
A large town called Yreka h'as sprung up in that valley, in
which it is said there are numbers of Baptist members who
have had but few Baptist sermons preached to them.
Yreka^^^ is said to be as large as Portland. Should I visit
Chasty Valley, or will our California brother penetrate the
mountains from the south and explore this mining district?
With sentiments of Christian esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Received April 24.

Oregon City, O. Territory, May 3d, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother :

Yours of March 3d has just come to hand and I now sit
down to answer it. It is with mingled emotions that I learn
that your Board have reappointed me to the work of ex-
ploring agent and general itinerant. I shall endeavor in the fear
of God to enter upon those duties to the best of my abilities,
but in view of the gradual decline of my physical, not to say
mental powers, I am led to hope that your Board will be

364 The steamship "Southerner," Capt. F. A. Sampson, was wrecked on the
Washington coast in the latter part of 1854. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., II :341.

365 Yreka sprang up as a result of the mining in Shasta County, California,
which began in 1850. Important diggings opened in March, 1851, gave rise to the
town, which was incorporated in 1854. It declined with the mines after 1857. —
Bancroft, Hist, of Calif., VI :494.

464 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

looking out for a man of ripe Christian experience and strong
physical constitution to enter upon the responsibilities of this
work after the present year. I feel th'at I have a right to
ask for a more limited field which will call for less exposure
in winter rains and the inconveniences of a frontier life. Yet
I often feel that I would prefer the ways of Providence to
those of my own choosings. I wish it to be distinctly under-
stood by the Board that my personal inclinations have for a
long time been to locate so that I could reach the extent of
my field of labor by a day's ride. Should you find a suit-
able man to enter upon this work at an earlier period than
the expiration of the present year, I will rejoice to facilitate
his introduction. It seems to me that the labor of such a
man in Oregon should not be dispensed with. As it relates
to the work of collecting for the Home Mission Society, you
know th'at I am willing to do all that I can in the further-
ance of that object. It is likewise true that your Society
ought to have found more pecuniary aid flowing into your
treasury from Oregon. Yet your servants and their fellow
laborers have been laboring as fast as they thought the
churches would bear to bring about this object in as healthy
and as permanent a manner as possible. We have to meet
all the infiuence of monthly Sabbaths and Missouri opinions,
and an educated anti-mission influence in our missionary
churches. These prejudices are so far worn away I believe
in all our churches that they, as churches, recognize the
principle that our ministry should be given to the work and
th'at they should be sustained somehow or other in that work.
At our last association we made a direct effort to sustain
one man in Lane County, which was an important missionary
field. I should at that time have pleaded the cause of the
Home Mission Soci'ety and asked that these efiforts might
in some way or other have gone through that channel, but
for the fact that your Board was at the time sustaining no
man but myself in Oregon. The right kind of work was
doing to accomplish the work and open the sympathies of
our brethren. The churches as a whol'e are coming up to

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 465

the work, although much slower than is desired by every
Hberal-souled disciple of Christ. It is hard teaching our
brethren the lesson of being dead to the world and alive to
God. Yet four churches, two of which were as little hope-
ful as any in the Association, have absolutely paid their
minister (Br. Riley) not less than $1000 the last year by
buying him a claim and providing him with clothing and
food for his family. Four more are paying Br. Chandler the
present year nearly $600. And I do not know of a church,
small as our churches are, which pays their minister less
than $100 for one-fourth of the time, while they scarcely
get the labors of the minister more than two days in a
month, except in the riding to and from the appointments,
which may take two days more. Thus you will perceive
that your missionaries have not been indifferent to the true
interests of Christ's church, although we have not been able
to do so much as we would, nor to direct what is done
through the channel which might be desired. I rejoice in the
love of our divine Master that you have appointed two more
missionaries for Oregon and that they are in their field of
labor. The way is now open for me to work directly for
you without putting on the air of supreme selfishness and,
although we are feeling the 'effects of what the world calls
hard times, I intend to try and do what I can for Br. Boy-
akin at Portland and Br. Stearns^^*^ at Jacksonville by per-
sonal appeals to private brethren, as well as by collection in
the churches, if I can get the subject before the churches,
and I doubt not I can. But the amount that can be done
this year cannot be expected to be large. I have no fears
of injuring my ministerial character in this work if God
goes with me. My greatest fear is that I may not do the
work as well as some other man might. We feel that we
must make an efifort to sustain two ministers by the Associa-
tion strictly as missionaries in destitute fields ; in this all
our brethren will probably unite. We have the men on the

366 This was probably Rev. M. N. Stearns, who had arrived that year from the
East with his father, Rev. John Stearns, and was chosen pastor of the Table Rock
(Jacksonville) Baptist Church. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:13.

466 CORRESPODNENCE OF THE

ground whom we may probably employ, our brethren see
them and know them, and have an assurance that something
will be done for them in Oregon when they pay their money.
I have felt, in view of all the circumstances, that we should
aid in this kind of work, and, although we cannot do the
work in the way we would desire, we shall do much of the
work which we should do if all prejudices were removed and
we were doing the work precisely as you would have us do it.
We have with us an old brother, Thomas Taylor, formerly
from Illinois (I think he formerly was in the service of
the Home Mission Society in 111.), who has a destitute field,
embracing a part of Clackamas County and a part of Yam
Hill County, in which there are a number of Baptist mem-
bers scattered. The field locally is important, but the coun-
try is mostly timbered, consequently slow of improvement
comparatively. One of the points I reported last winter,
near the mouth of the Sandy on the Columbia River. A
year's labor would probably result in the formation of from
one to four churches. Br. Taylor's family consists of him-
self and wife. He says he can labor a year for $300 and
will run the risk of raising half that sum on the field. Br.
Chandler proposes to pay $25 of the balance. Br. Chandler
is very desirous that he should be put into that field. Now
will your Board make him the appointment under such con-
ditions as you may think proper and require him to re-
port to you and allow me to see what I can raise on the field
for him, yet so as not to interfere with any efiforts I may
make for Br. Boyakin and Br. Stearns? Will you leave Br.
Taylor to consult with Br. Chandler and myself respecting
the field? The country we propose is as densely peopled and
as destitute as any part of Oregon and the most remote point
not more than 24 miles from Oregon City.

As ever your fellow-laborer in the vineyard of our common
Master,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 467

Oregon City, O. Ter., May 4th, 1855.
Rev. B. M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

I some weeks since wrote you an explanation of the reason
why I drew on you an order payable to George Abernathy
& Co. to the amount of $300. I have all the while supposed
from the course that you had allowed me to pursue that you
would grant me some privileges, on account of my distance
and the length of time it took for me to get your drafts after
requesting you to forward them. My pay has mostly come
in goods and exchange of money collected here. You know
I have always waited as much as I could to suit the con-
venience of the Society, and I trust I have not shown an un-
usual spirit of avarice in this matter. But it would be ex-
ceedingly mortifying to me as a prompt Christian minister in
all my business relations to have my order protested and
come back to Oregon so. I have never in my public life
owed a man over $200 at any given time, and never but once
failed of meeting my pecuniary liabilities punctually at the
time. Now if I have sinned in drawing this draft, I have
sinned as I have done before, unadmonished. I sincerely re-
gret to occasion you or the Board any trouble on that ac-
count or in any measure to occasion Abernathy to doubt
my integrity. If your Board should protest the order, will
they do me the favor to issue a draft in favor of me to that
amount and pass it over to Abernathy & Co. and pay it
immediately, as I have received the money and been obliged
to pay out a part of it already to keep up my family. The
remaining part is passing away in the same way. Will you
do me the favor hereafter to settle my accounts at the end
of each quarter, on the receipt of my quarterly report, and
within three weeks from that time forward me a draft cov-
ering the amount due me at the time and let this be a stand-
ing order except when otherwise directed.

468 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Rest assured, dear brother, that I do not make this re-
quest through any unkind feelings. . .

As ever yours,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
Received June 8.

Oregon City, O. Ten, July 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society for the first quarter of
the year, ending June 30th, as General Itinerant.

I have labored 13 weeks in the quarter ; preached 23 ser-
mons ; attended 12 prayer meetings, nine church covenant
meetings ; have assisted at the organization of the church
in the city of Portland ;^^^ have traveled to and from my
appointments 494 miles ; have visited religiously 30 families
and 22 individuals. The church at Portland takes her place
beside older ones of other denominations under favorable
prospects, as you will learn by the reports of Br. Boyakin.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.

Oregon City, O. Ter., July 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
the first quarter ending June 30th, 1855. I have visited Port-
land, Santiam, Providence,^^^ Pleasant Butte, Lebanon, West
Tualatin, West Union and Yam Hill churches, the Willam-

367 This was organized by Revs. W. F. Boyakin, H. Johnson, and the author,
May 6, 1855. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:14. The author says there were eleven
constituent members ; Mattoon, ten.

368 The Providence Baptist Church in Linn County, at the forks of the San-
tiam River, was organized April 9, 1853. — Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:12. The
other churches mentioned have previously been commented upon.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 469

ette Baptist Association and Ministers' meeting.

Have collected $24.48 by collection taken on Sabbath at
the Association. Have obtained a subscription in Tualatin
Plains of forty bushels of wheat to be paid to Br. Boyakin
in Portland on or before the first day in Oct., to apply on
his salary. Br. Boyakin will report the value to you as
soon as received. It will probably be worth from $0.75 to
$1.00 per bushel. Paid $3.92 for traveling expenses and
$0.25 for postage — $4.17. Have aided in the constitution of
the first Baptist church in Portland with eleven members.
Have preached 23 sermons and traveled to and from my
appointments 494 miles.

All which is respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
Received Aug. 11.

Oregon City, O. Ter., July 2, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. A. B. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

I have just returned from the annual meeting of the
Willamette Baptist Association, which was held with the
Yam Hill church, ten miles west of Lafayette, the seat of
justice for Yam Hill County. As a business meeting, it ex-
ceeded in interest and harmony all preceding meetings. The
churches appear to be gradually arousing to the importance
of the ministry becoming devoted to the one great calling,
the ministry of reconciliation, and that they should be sus-
tained in that work by the churches. Three brethren now
in the field have the assurance that their salary from the
churches the present year will exceed $600 each, and other
churches are expressing a willingness to contribute accord-
ing to their ability. The Association resolved that they
would make an effort to sustain two missionaries the com-
ing year, one in Lane County and vicinity and the other in
Clackamas County and vicinity, and something over $200

470 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

was subscribed on the spot. Resolutions were passed in favor
of the great Christian enterprises, such as the Baptist Home
Mission Society, PubHcation Society, etc. The changes
in the Association were as follows : Six new churches re-
ceived into the body.^^^ One hundred and twenty-three bap-
tized ; net gain, 232. Some efforts were made to remove the
school from Oregon City, which resulted in a resolution to
open subscriptions for a college in favor of five places, to-
wit: Oregon City, Corvallis, Santiam, Cincinnati^^° and
Lafayette, and report next year. The Home Missionary
Society is gradually securing the confidence of the denomi-
nation, but while this is said, other home mission societies
are represented in Oregon, and we cannot predict the results.
Elder Johnson is acting as a missionary of the Free Mission
Society, but prudently, and at this session of our Association
we met an agent for the Bible Union soliciting life member-
ships and offering for sale a portion of the Scriptures as
translated by the Union, also introducing their periodicals.
I have no objection to the Union's translating the Scriptures
and selling them to whoever may wish to purchase. But
we in Oregon must be wiser than our brethren at home, if
the introduction of an agent to our little Baptist community,
gathered from the ends of the earth, does not strike some
discordant notes in our infant land. The Lord give us wis-
dom and prudence equal to our day, and save us from sin-
ning in this matter.

As ever yours,
Received Aug. IL EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., July 3, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. H. M. Soc.
Dear Brother :

I made my last quarter's report on the first instant. In

369 These six were the Union (Polk County), Good Hope (Linn County),
Mount Zion (Lane County), Willamette Forks (Lane County),' Palestine (Lane
Countv), and First Portland Churches. — Minutes of Willamette Baptist Association
and Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., 1:16, 17.

370 Cincinnati is the present Eola in Polk County.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 471

this letter I wish to order you to attend to several branches
of business for me. By this mail I shall order the discon-
tinuance of the Christian Chronicle and substitute the New
York Recorder and Baptist Register in its place. I shall
also order the weekly Tribune, if it is furnished to ministers
at $1 per year. You will therefore meet the orders which I
send you for the payment on the above-named papers. You
will also pay an order which I shall send you for the Baptist
Missionary Magazine. I shall also order you to pay three
dollars to the agent for the Mothers' Journal.

You will, therefore, please send me a draft for the sum
due me, after deducting twenty-four dollars and forty-eight
cents ($24.48), the amount of the collection taken up at the
Willamette Association, and ten dollars ($10) to meet the
periodical demands against me, at your earliest convenience.
Should the periodical bills exceed ten dollars, the publishers
must wait till after I make my next quarter's report, as I
am much in want of funds to meet my forthcoming expenses.
Let the draft be drawn to me or order.
Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, July 3d, 1855.
Rev. B. M. Hill, Cor. Sec. Soc.
Dear Brother:

Our school affairs are moving along but slowly. Our com-
munity is so fluctuating, being subject to so many excite-
ments and so many fluctuations, and so extreme, that it is
next to impossible to keep any class of scholars above a few
months, except a few from the more able permanent citizens.
We have been suflPering the last twelve months all the in-
conveniences of stagnation in business. ^''^ Farmers have
wheat and beef and pork and butter in profusion, but it is
hard to convert their produce into cash or family supplies.
Now another panic has struck the farmers. New and rich

371 These hard times are assigned by Bancroft to Indian disturbances, and to
the falling oflf in the yield of the California mines. Business was prostrated in
California. — Hist, of Ore., 11:337.

472 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

gold dig-gings are beginning to be worked high up the Colum-
bia near Fort Colville.^^^ This is drawing away the floating
laborers, and some of the farmers are leaving their standing
wheat for the mines. It has not yet been ascertained how
extensive the gold field is on the Columbia, or how product-
ive it will prove, yet nothwithstanding the high waters, in-
experienced miners. Frenchmen and half-breeds are said to
wash from fifteen to twenty dollars per day with nothing but
pans. About $5000 worth of the gold has already reached
this place and is pronounced to be gold of the finest quality.
With these and other and varied exciting causes moving
upon the minds of a heterogenious community thrown to-
gether from every part of the globe, it is no strange thing
that teachers become discouraged and eflforts to cultivate the
minds and morals of the rising generation should prove less
successful than in older and better graduated communities.
Although our school has failed of exerting that direct and
salutary influence on the denomination which was antici-
pated, yet it has done much to elevate the views of the Bap-
tists in Oregon and has shed its blessings, both direct and
indirect, upon hundreds of our fellow citizens. I fear, how-
ever, that we shall be compelled to make another change
of teachers, however much such a change is to be dreaded.
Br. Post has already manifested discontent and I fear that it
may before long ripen into a removal. I do not know that
it is possible to find a thorough, self-sacrificing teacher who
will merge all the interests of the school into the interest of
the denomination so as to worthily claim the name of a mis-
sionary school teacher. Yet that should be the case with
our teachers as well as with our home missionaries.

Br. Boyakin is doing well at Portland, is popular with his
church and the world. I have but little doubt that the
Masonic fraternity^^^ sympathize with him and lend him their

372 This gold discovery was in the spring of 1855 and caused, as the author
indicates, the usual stampede to the diggings. — Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Idaho and
Mont., p. 108.

373 The first Masonic lodge in Oregon was organized at Oregon City in 1848
under a charter granted in 1846. By 1855 and 1856 lodges had become quite
numerous. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:30, 415.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 473

aid as a brother of the same order. I hope he will not over-
rate the privileges of that order. He is energetic and elo-
quent and abounds in figures and epithets. May God bless
him abundantly. I expect to go south in three or four weeks.
Shall be able to take up some collections for the Home Mis-
sion Society. Deacon Failing has engaged to take up a col-
lection monthly in the Portland church for the Home Mis-
sion cause. Br. Boyakin will probably report the amount
quarterly.

Yours with Christian esteem,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Aug. 11.

Oregon City, Aug. 2d, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Society.
Dear Brother :

Yours of May 25th was duly received. With this I shall
send you the minutes of our Association. The new gold ex-
citement in our territory at the present time calls for a
communication from me. The gold region is on the large
north fork of the Columbia River, about thirty miles above
Fort Colville. It has now become quite certain that the
mines are rich and they are supposed to be extensive. But
nothing definite can be relied upon except that most of the
French in the Willamette Valley have either been and re-
turned and gone the second time or are preparing to go.
Already about 1000 of the American population of the Will-
amette Valley are on their way to these new mines. Many
more are preparing to go ; others are anxiously awaiting the
first reliable information. The most extravagant rumors are
in circulation respecting the richness of the mines and the
facilities of acquiring the golden treasures. It is pretty sat-
isfactorily ascertained that the Roman priest at Colville has
known of these mines for years and has enjoined secrecy
upon the Indians. Rumors reliable say the chiefs forbid the
Oregonians, except French and half-breeds, to dig till they

474 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

have treated with the Indian agent for their lands. Money
is extremely scarce in this valley and, if there is much gold
to be had, our citizens will have their proportion of it, even
at the price of blood. They will not stand by, by the thou-
sands, and see French Catholics, half-breeds and Indians mo-
nopolize the best of the diggings. Some reports say that the
gold has been found on only two small bars of the river ;
others say that the region of gold is 300 miles in extent. I
have been waiting for the last two weeks to get at facts be-
fore writing you, but this is safe at the present. Nearly
all the lands between the Cascade Mountains and these
mines, on both sides of the Columbia Riwer,^'^^ have been
purchased of the Indians and now open one of the most
inviting regions to the emigrant for settlement in North
America. The Dalles must immediately become a point of
importance and, should the mines prove rich and extensive,
a point at The Dalles will Decome a second Sacramento and
another at the Cascades, 45 miles below, will scarcely be
less in importance. We should have a man at The Dalles at
this moment, awake to all the interests of religion and hu-
manity in that region. Trade is springing up at that point
with great rapidity. The Methodist Church will undoubtedly
have a man there in a few months. The Congregationalists
are looking on with interest and have sent their man to sur-
vey that field. I shall visit that place as soon as I learn
more definitely the state of things in relation to the mines.
Will you have a man for The Dalles and Cascades as soon
as possible. It will cost as much to sustain a man in that
field as it does at Portland.

I am strongly inclined to the opinion that I shall settle as
near the centre of middle Oregon as circumstances will
justify, perhaps on the waters of the Walla Walla, at the close
of this year, as a self-supporting missionary, to finish my
days where I can be with my family and a little more ex-
empt from responsibilities than in my present agency. But

374 This purchase was by the treaties with the Nez Perces, Cayuses, Walla
Wallas, Umatillas, and Yakimas, in June, 18SS, and with the John Day, Des Chutes
and Wascopans, about the same time. — Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:360-8.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 475

I leave that in the hands of the All Wise Being to direct.
My friends here decidedly approve of my plans. Very little
can be done in the agency by way of collecting funds this
summer or next, should the gold excitement prevail. Most
of our men will go to the mines and we must preach to
women and children and runners to and fro. If ever mis-
sionaries needed an unction from on high, ministers and
churches in Oregon at this time are that people. O Lord,
give grace to thy servants to make an entire consecration to
Thee !

Last Sabbath I assisted in organizing a church of eleven
members, fifteen miles northeast from this place, between
Clackamas and Sandy Rivers. Next week I leave for the
upper part of this valley. Our churches generally are pass-
ing through trials and declensions, such as are too common
after revivals, where monthly preaching and monthly meet-
ings take the place of weekly Sabbaths and faithful pastoral
labors through the week. We are everywhere attempting
to impress the churches with a sense of the importance of
regular Sabbath preaching and constant pastoral labors, and
not without success. Yet changes in this respect are slow,
but will come in a few more years. I made my last quarterly
report on the first of July and ordered you to pay for me ten
dollars on periodicals. Also ordered you to forward me a
draft for what will be my due, after paying those little period-
ical accounts. I rejoice at the prospect of harmony being
restored to the churches on the Home Mission question.
God grant that the Bible question may soon be put to rest.
Our Bible Union brethren will have the Bible translated into
the English language. I hope they will do the work faith-
fully and leave the American and Foreign Bible Society to
prosecute her appropriate work unmolested and that the
Peace which Christ left with the disciples may find a home in
every church and every heart.

Respectfully yours,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Sept. IL

476 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Oregon City, O. Ten, Sept. 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. :

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant for
the second quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1855.

I have labored 13 weeks; preached 21 sermons; attended
five prayer meetings and six church covenant meetings ; two
yearly meetings of the churches; visited religiously 34 fami-
lies and 26 individuals ; have assisted in the organization of
the Cedar Creek church, Clackamas County; have traveled to
and from my appointments 818 miles. Four persons have
been received into the La Creole church by baptism after a
sermon I preached on the subject of communion at the re-
quest of the pastor, Br. Riley. Monthly concert and weekly
prayer meeting are observed in the Oregon City church.
Connected with the churches which I have visited are small
Sabbath schools in the Oregon City, Pleasant Butte and
Santiam churches.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Sept. 1st, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. :

Herein I send my report of labor under the appointment
of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for the
second quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1855.

I have visited Oregon City, Corvallis, Cascades and The
Dalles, Oregon City, Cedar Creek, Luckiamute,-'''^ Lebanon,
Pleasant Butte, Santiam and Providence churches ; traveled
to and from my appointments 818 miles ; lajbored 13 weeks.
Have taken up the following collection :

In the Luckiamute church, $2.00 $ 2.00

In the Pleasant Butte church, $6.58 6.58

375 The Luckiamute Church was organized April 1, 1854. — Mattoon, Bap. An.
of Ore., 1:16. Luckiamute is about four miles south of Monmouth, in Polk County.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 477

In the Santiam church, $5.80 5.80

In Oregon City church, $6.12 6.12

Total $20.50

Paid for traveling expenses $16.45

For postage 20

Total $16.65

which you will charge to my account.

Preached 21 sermons ; have attended the constitution of the
church on Cedar Creek. . . .

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER.
N. B. — The extra traveling expenses are for a tour to The
Dalles, which I shall make as soon as the yearly meetings
are over this month. If I fail to go I shall deduct the
amount in my next report.
Received Oct. 17.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Oct. 3d, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother:

Last Thursday I took the steamer for The Dalles and
arrived at The Cascades about eight in the evening. Found
The Cascades in a high state of excitement through fear of a
nightly attack of the Yaccima [Yakima] and Clickitat
[Klickitat] Indians, which was daily expected.^''^ About 500
of their warriors were reported to be encamped in a plain
about 35 or 40 miles northeast of The Cascades, who are
said to aim at the destruction of the whites at The Cascades
and thus cut off communication between the Willamette
Valley and the upper country (or middle Oregon). Some 15
whites are reported as already murdered by these tribes,

376 This was the beginning of the Indian War of 18SS-6, which arose partly
over dissatisfaction with the treaties of 1855, and partly over the large influx of
whites, and which involved Eastern Oregon and nearly all of the present Washing-
ton.— Bancroft, Hist, of Wash., Ida. and Mont., pp. 108-170.

478 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

chiefly miners; one Indian agent is included in the number.
Yet Indian rumors are uncertain. Suffice it to say that I
found The Cascades mostly deserted by the women and
children. The men had organized themselves into a military
company for self defense. The family residing on the north
side of the river midway between The Cascades and The
Dalles had moved to The Dalles for safety. Thirty soldiers
had been sent down from The Dalles to guard the house
and outbuildings. While I lay at The Cascades an express
came down from The Dalles making a requisition for all the
soldiers that could be spared at Vancouver to be sent imme-
diately to The Cascades. With this state of excitement, I
thought little could be expected from a visit to The Dalles,
as this warlike appearance from the Indians will seriously
retard the settlement of the whole upper country for a year
or two at the least. Consequently I returned without even
spending a night on the land.

All the Pend d' Oreille miners have returned, except a few
French and perhaps a very few whites. About 25 or 30
white families are settled in the vicinity of The Dalles, and
ten or twelve more, besides some fifty or sixty French whites
and half-breeds, are in the Walla Walla Valley in the vicinity
of the Whitman Mission Station. Although we have some 80
or 100 regular troops at The Dalles, these scattered families
will be in great danger, should the Indian war become gen-
eral with the tribes above the Cascade Mountains. O, when
will wars cease, and men everywhere submit to the glorious
Prince of Peace ! If I were a young man, I sometimes think
I should delight to propagate the blessed gospel among these
tribes and see if they could not be saved from the brutal lusts
of outlawed whites and the Jesuital intrigues and supersti-
tion of the Roman priests. I have but little doubt that the
same artful teachers are at work with those Indians that were
accessory to the Whitman massacre. O, when shall that
great City Babylon, in whom was found the blood of the
prophets and of saints and of all that were slain upon the

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 479

earth, be thrown down and found no more! Oh Lord, hasten

it in Thy time. . r .1.^

I shall start tomorrow for a tour m the upper part of the
valley and propose visiting some of the feeble churches m
Lane County, if God permits. I have nothing more that is
new to communicate at this time, but shall communicate on
the subject of the school in this place in a few weeks. I fear
Br Post will set up an independent school about two miles
from this place in the opening of the spring.^^^ But I cannot
communicate with you officially on that subject till the com-
mittee visit him and report to the trustees.

Yours very affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B.— The school is now full. May God pour out His
Holy Spirit upon it. ^ ^^^^^^

Received Nov. 14.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Nov. 27th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Society, New \ork.

Dear Brother: ^^-^ ^.

Yours of Sept. 1st, containing draft No. 8650, $3/6.24, was
duly received. We here think that Br. Post has very little
reason to complain respecting support. The school, accord-
ing to his statement last spring, has been a paying concern
ever since the first three weeks after he commenced teaching,
and I am quite sure it has paid better since that time than
it did before, if he succeeds as well in collecting as he did
formerly.

Private. His course with us as a board has been rather
singular. He has from time to time avowed his intention to
ope^'n an independent school about two miles from town.
Last May the Board of Trustees met to take into considera-
tion the state of the school and invited him to meet with us.

Tn This school was opened and ran for a time just outside the present southern
limits of Oregon City.

480 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

The first meeting he did not attend. A committee was ap-
pointed to wait on him and inquire into sundry reports which
we thought unfavorable to the prosperity of the Oregon City
College, such as the following: That he had changed the
name of the school in his advertisements ; had proposed to
take females as scholars, which he has since done; had pri-
vately expressed his determination to open an independent
school, as stated above, without consulting with any/ of the
Trustees on the subject, and that he had announced in a
church meeting that he did not know who the Trustees were,
except two or three, and he did not care. The committee
waited on him and inquired after most of these reports. He
made some apologies and explanations. He was told that an
attempt to set up an independent school would be injurious to
all parties and especially to himself; that the Board of Trus-
tees could not cherish the scheme for a moment. He agreed to
desist from that enterprise, if the Trustees would allow him to
reside on his land and teach in our school building. He was
told that we did not care particularly where he resided, pro-
vided he discharged the duties of a teacher faithfully. At
that time he probably would have been dismissed but for Br.
Chandler and myself. We felt that it was difficult to secure
the labors of a competent teacher and that the Home Mis-
sionary Society had already sent us three teachers and we
had little hope they would send us the fourth. We, therefore,
smothered the bursting flame and hoped he would be more
prudent in the future. But it is probable he will open an in-
dependent school as soon as next summer, unless he can
again be persuaded to desist. As a teacher, with few ex-
ceptions, we have little occasion to find fault. Yet we have
always felt that it would have been desirable that the school
should have made a more decidedly religious impression on
the public mind. In view of all the circumstances, we feel
that it is safe to treat this matter kindly till we see some
opening in providence for action.

As ever yours,

EZRA FISHER.

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 481

Oregon City, Nov. 27th, 1855.
Rev. B. M. Hill, D. D.
Dear Brother:

Br. Boyakin will probably leave Portland at the close of
the year. He has so signified in a communication to the
church in that place. I regret much that his stay must be so
short. I believe his plea principally is the sickness of his
family. No doubt the town is subject to intermittent and re-
mittent fevers during the summer and autumn, but much less
severe than in many of the towns on the Mississippi River.
Should he not settle at Corvallis, he will probably leave Ore-
gon. The brethren and citizens at Corvallis appear quite
solicitous that he should settle with them and they think
they can raise $500 towards his salary for the first year.
They have invited him and requested me to exert my influ-
ence to induce him to go to that place. I shall not encourage
a separation at Portland, but, should he conclude to go to
Corvallis, he will need about $300, above the $500 the citizens
propose raising him, to sustain his family. It is to be re-
gretted that the ministers should return to the States after
they have incurred all the expense and privations of removing
overland to Oregon. May the Good Lord direct him and the
little feeble band at Portland to His name's praise ! Portland
must have a minister if practicable.

Yours affectionately,

EZRA FISHER.

N. B. — At the strong solicitude of the Santiam church, I
have consented to take the pastoral charge of that feeble,
afiflicted band at the expiration of the current year. Elder
Richmond Cheadle, an influential member of the church, has
avowed his disfellowship with that church. He will probably
join the Presbyterian Church, and with him several more may
go. It is thought advisable by all with whom I have con-
sulted that I should accept their invitation and, as they pro-
pose to move my family immediately and the place will be
more central for my winter's labors than this, I have con-
sented to move in a few days. I shall hereafter address vou

482 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

at Washington Butte Post-office, Linn County, O. T. You
will still address me at this place and the letters will be
promptly forwarded to me at Washington Butte. It is
thought that my presence at the Santiam church may be in-
strumental in arresting the sophistical arguments in favor of
promiscuous communion, while I may be at home the coming
winter. This situation was unsought and entirely unexpect-
ed on my part, and, after much prayer on the subject, I have
concluded that it was one of Providence's calls. The church
is very nearly in the center of the valley and removed far
away from most of the talent in the ministry. Should the
Board require it, I will make up the time I shall lose in mov-
ing, which will be but a few days, after the first of April.
Yours in gospel bonds,

EZRA FISHER.
Received Jan. 15, 1856.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Nov. 28th, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc. :
Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as General Itinerant for
the third quarter ending Dec. 31st, 1855. I have labored 13
weeks in the quarter; preached 27 sermons; attended 11 pray-
er meetings; one yearly meeting; six church covenant meet-
ings; visited religiously 42 families and 31 individuals; trav-
eled to and from my appointments 660 miles.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
General Itinerant.

P. S. — The results of the yearly meeting with the Provi-
dence church in the forks of the Santiam and a subsequent
meeting held in the vicinity is about 70 hopeful conversions
and about 40 baptized. A new church constituted ; also a
protracted meeting held on the south fork of Santiam ; some
eight or ten baptized and a church constituted. For the last
five months the French Prairie church have been somewhat

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 483

revived and have had additions almost every month amount-
ing to six or eight, and the interest still continues. This is
in Br. Chandler's field of labor.

Yours, EZRA FISHER.

Oregon City, O. Ter., Nov. 28th, 1855.
To Rev. Benjamin M. Hill, D. D.,

Cor. Sec. of Am. Home Mission Soc:

Herein I send you my report of labor under the appoint-
ment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for
the third quarter ending Dec. 31st, 1855.

I have visited Corvallis twice, Albany, Salem and Oregon
City, Corvallis, Oregon City, French Prairie, Shilo, Santiam,
Willamette Forks, and Palestine churches. Have labored 13
weeks during the quarter; traveled to and from my appoint-
ments 660 miles; have paid for traveling expenses $3.00;
postage, 30 cents ; total $3.30.

N. B.— Last quarter I was detained from going to The
Dalles, consequently my traveling expenses were four dollars
overcharged. You will therefore deduct four dollars from
that quarter's traveling expenses, which will then read $9.25,
instead of $13.25.

Respectfully submitted,

EZRA FISHER,
Exploring Agent.
Received Jan. 15, 1856.

Oregon City, Oregon Ter., Nov. 29th, 1855.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bapt. Home Mission Society.
Dear Brother:

To accommodate Brother George C. Chandler, I have re-
ceived of him thirty-two dollars and fifty cents ($32.50) to
be paid to Edward H. Fletcher, 141 Nassau St., New York.

$32.50

Mothers' Journal, 118 Arch St., Philadelphia 5.00

484 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

Missionary jMagazine, 33 Somerset St., Boston 3.00

Total $40.50

Also Alothers' Journal for Mrs. Lucy Jane G.

Latourette 1.00

Total $41.50

I shall order you to pay the above in a few weeks. Deduct
$41.50 from the amount due me on the receipt of the report
accompanying this and forward me a draft to cover the bal-
ance, which will then be my due, at your earliest convenience.

EZRA FISHER.

Soda Springs, Linn Co., O. Ten, Jan, 1st, 1856.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc,
Baptist Mission Rooms, N. York City.
Pay the agent for the Mothers' Journal, 118 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, five dollars and charge the same to my account.

EZRA FISHER.

Soda Springs, Linn Co., O. Ter., Jan. 1st, 1856.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,
Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc,

Baptist Mission Rooms, New York City.
Pay the agent of the Baptist Missionary Magazine, No. 33
Somerset Street, Boston, Mass., three dollars and charge
the same to my account.

EZRA FISHER.

Washington Butte, Linn Co., Oregon, Mar. 31, 1857.
Rev. Benjamin M. Hill,

Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Home Mission Soc.
Dear Brother Hill :

I now take up my long neglected pen to give you a brief
outline of the cause of Christ in Oregon at present ; and I
may say at once that we are all famishing under the influ-

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 485

ence of a spiritual dearth. The results of the revivals in
'55 and '56 are being witnessed to an alarming degree. In
some churches, most of the converts continue to maintain a
form of godliness; in others, more than half the number of
those who united with the church are now walking in the
broad road of sin, I fear, to ruin; and there are churches
in which the wayside hearers and professors hold a still
greater proportion. Do you ask the cause of this declension?
I conceive it is not one but legion. Monthly Sabbaths, and
in too many instances no Sabbaths, and visiting represent in
a great degree all Bible reading, as well as almost all re-
ligious reading among the youths. Sabbath school and Bible
classes may be sustained, but it is only the few of our youths
belonging to religious families who can be induced to become
habitual members. Our members are in each church scat-
tered over large districts of country, with few conveniences
for bringing their families together on the Lord's day. Those
who would concentrate their influence cannot without a sac-
rifice larger than they can willingly make.

And then the pastoral relation in the churches, beyond
that of preaching on Saturday and Sabbath once in a month
to a given church, and occasionally visiting the most delin-
quent members, is merely nominal; we have but two Bap-
tist ministers in Oregon who profess to give themselves to
the work of the ministry, and one of them is talking of
leaving for the States; the other is laboring at a salary of
$300, and that from the States, while clerks' hire is from
$600 to $2200 per annum. Our families are supported as
Paul supported himself while laboring for the Corinthian
Church.

And then the question of slavery, as well as that of tem-
perance, must needs be noted, both in and out of the church,
as we approach the period of the adoption of a state consti-
tution, and as we hear of the wrongs endured by the Kansas
patriots on account of their love for the inalienable rights of
man. A large portion of our members are from slave-holding

486 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE

states, and a larger portion are professedly opposed to slavery,
"but all their sympathies are with the South." What a para-
dox!

And then, too, many of our revivals have singing as the
instrument more than humiliation, prayer, the reading of
the word of God and the preached word. With such a train
of causes, what could we expect other than the sad results
we are now witnessing through our whole territory? Is it a
wonder, under such influences, that our best ministers should
talk sometimes of leaving the ministry, and betake them-
selves to teaching, as a means of procuring an honest liveli-
hood? Ministers indeed seem willing to make great sacri-
fices for the cause of the blessed Redeemer, and will preach
what they can under the circumstances. But they must be-
come secularized. Their minds will not be fruitful in word
and doctrine, and all the blighting influences of an ignorant,
undisciplined, disorganized ministry and churches driven by
every wind of doctrine must be the tendency in such a state
of things.

Now what is to be done? Should we not have in Oregon
at least two substantial, efficient ministers, fully sustained,
who will approve themselves workmen not needing to be
ashamed? Should not the Home Mission Society immediate-
ly give us such men, either by sending us the men, or ap-
pointing such as we have among us?

Should your Board appoint Brother Chandler to the Ore-
gon City church, that church would do what they could to
help sustain him. Portland church is virtually extinct for the
want of a suitable man. I would suggest that the second
man be appointed to locate himself discretionarily, but at
some important point.

With the interest of the churc'hes, our school at Oregon
City has suffered. Br. Post has withdrawn from that school
and set up an independent school less than two miles from
the building erected by the Baptists and where he formerly
taught. His course with us has not been in harmony with

REVEREND EZRA FISHER. 487

the interests of the Baptists. I think I speak the sentiment
of the whole denomination, so far as he is known, when I
say that his whole course has seemed to be governed by his
views of his own interest in dollars and cents.

At present the school is taught by a son and daughter of
Br. Hezekiah Johnson, your former missionary, and the
school is doing as well as could be expected under the cir-
cumstances. But we need a teacher qualified to teach the
higher branches of mathematics and Latin and Greek, as
well as the natural sciences. We all think such a man would
be well sustained and patronized by the denomination and
the citizens, if he will come to us willing to identify him-
self with the Baptist interests. A liberal-minded man need
feel no embarrassments on this subject. The public mind
in Oregon seems wonderfully impressed with the thought
that they are to have no good schools in Oregon except such as
are under the fostering care of some religious denomination ;
and to the evangelical churches they will look for good high
schools till they learn effectually that the churches will not
assume this responsibility. We might to-day have half a
dozen flourishing high schools in Oregon, if we had the
houses and teachers and necessary apparatus. The question
is a grave one. Shall we as Baptists suffer these positions
to slide over into the hands of the Methodists and Congre-
gationalists ? Or, what is worse, leave the rising generation
in Oregon unprovided with even the means of acquiring a
business education, and our churches uncared for in the
great work of raising up a living ministry in our midst? Will
you once more send us a man for Oregon City University?
I write officially.

Yours truly,

EZRA FISHER.

INDEX

489

Adams County, 111., 87.

Albany, Oregon, 338.

American and Foreign Bible So-
ciety, 79, 85.

American Baptist Publication
Society, 211, 352.

American Bible Society, 79.

American Sunday School Union,
9, 51, 67.

Amherst College, 6.

Applegate, Jesse, 350.

Astoria, 15, 16, 17, 172, 175, 199,
208, 233, 280.

Atkinson, George H., 21, 308, 336,
375, 419.

B.

Bagley, Daniel, 366.

Baptist Church at Indianapolis,

36.
Baptist Home Mission Society,

7, 31.
Banner and Pioneer, 98.
Beatty, A. L., 111.
Benson, A. G. and A. W., 174,

186.
Benton County, 339.
Berkley, J. G., 415.
Berry, William, 220.
Bethany, 111., 75, 78.
Bloomington, 10, 11, 102, 105, 107,

120.
Blue River, 50.
Bond, James, 209, 217.
Bond, Mrs., 259.
Bowen, Jacob, 95.
Boyakin, W. F., 448, 449, 469,

472.
Brabrook, Rev., 153, 155.
Brutus, 203, 205.
Buffalo, 34.
Burlington, 133.

C.

Cadell, Mary, 253.

California, 16, 19, 136, 206, 210,

220, 226, 230, 235, 238, 240, 255,

262, 270, 322.
Callipooia, 265, 267.
Cambridge, Vt., 7.
Campbell, Alexander, 35, 37, 40.
Campbell, Hector, 459.
Campbellites, 38, 40, 48, 54, 56,

137, 351.
Canemah, 324, 325.
Carolina, 296.
Carter, Tolbert, 354.
Cascades, 13.

Cascade Falls, 442, 452, 477.
Cayuse War, 218, 221, 228, 233.
Champoeg, 346.
Chandler, George C, 292, 307,

320, 324, 328, 344, 345, 359, 361,

364, 388, 392, 393, 412, 419.
Cheadle, Richard, 20.

Cheadle, Richmond, 295, 310, 322,

348, 385.
Chehalis, 379.
Chehalem Valley, 172, 252.
Cholera, 42.
Cincinnati, Oregon, 303.
City Bible Society, 216.
Clackamas Church, 428.
Clark Cyrus G., 147.
Cleveland, 34.
Coe, Nathaniel, 434.
Coloma, 410.
Clatsop Plains, 16, 17, 182, 253,

270, 280.
Columbia River, 13, 268.
Colville, Fort, 472.
Cone, Spencer Houghton, 317.
Congregationalisms, 80, 263, 336,

437.
Connersville, 50, 65.
Coos Bay, 404, 405.
Cornelius, Aaron, 341.
Corvallis, 339, 341, 342, 348, 385,

394, 457, 481.
Corvallis Association, 18.
Council Bluffs, 150.
Covington, Ind., 41.
Cowlitz, 372.
Cramb, A. B., 422, 440.
Cranfill, Isom, 249.
Crawford, Luther, 73 .
Crawford, Medorum, 279.
Cressey, Timothy R., 67, 68.
Cross and Baptist Journal, 67.
Cumberland, 52.
Cushing, John and Caleb, 173,

174.

D.

Dalles, The, 13, 25, 28, 168, SSl,
441, 451, 455, 474, 478.

Dare, Mary, 229, 232.

Davenport, la., 10, 11, 101, 107,
125, 134, 140, 154.

Davis, W. M., 428, 445.

Dayton, 34.

Dedham, 5.

Deer Creek, 405. 413.

Des Moines, 133.

De Vore, John F., 380.

Da Witt, 107.

Disciples of Christ, see Camp-
bellites.

Dysentery, 257.

E.

Ebey, I. N., 371., 380.
Education in Oregon, 229, 236,

243, 245, 247, 266, 267, 271,

275, 279.
Eells, 219.

Elkins, Mrs. James, 24.
Elledge, Jesse, 96.
Ellen and Louisa, 322.
Elliott, Rev., 134.
Episcopalians, 334.

490

INDEX

Failing, Josiah, 322, 434, 437.

Fairmont, Rev., 52, 60.

Fall Creek, 60, 61.

Fisher, Aaron, 5.

Fisher, Ann Eliza, 258.

Fisher, Athony, 5.

Fisher, Benjamin, 5.

Fisher, Ezra, birth, 5; education,
6, 7; goes to Indiana, 8; goes
to Iowa, 10; goes to Illinois,
11; goes to Oregon, 12; per-
sonal apeparance, 22.

Fisher, Francis Wayland How-
ard, 258.

Fisher, Lucy Jane, 258.

Fisher, Mrs., 37; death of, 423,
426.

Fisher, Sara, 5.

Fisher, Timothy, 258, 259.

Food in early Oregon, 14, 18, 196.

Ford, Thomas H., 95.

Forest Grove, 28, 248, 356, 398.

Fort Hall, 124, 219.

Fort Laramie, 162.

Franklin, 41, 49, 51.

Fremont, James C, 124.

French Prairie, 170, 249, 347.

French Prairie Church, 329, 337.

Franklin College, 9, 58, 72.

Fuller, Andrew, 211.
G.

Galston, Captain, 199, 215, 277.

Gary, George, 203, 205.

Gearhart, 17.

Going, Jonathan, 7, 31-83.

Gold, 278, 394; discovery of, 262;
discovered in California, 230,
254; at Fort Colville, 472, 473;
in Rogue River Valley, 331,
378

Granville, 111., 122.

Graves, J. M., 51.

Grayl, Roberts, 439.

Greencastle, Ind., 41.

Greensburg, Ind., 43.

Griggsville, 96.

H.

Hall, Colonel, 255.

Hall, E. O., 206.

Harding, Samuel, 48, 50, 52, 56,
64.

Hastings party, 198.

Hawkins, John, 43.

Henderson, Sarah Fisher, 11.

Henry, 199, 229.

Hill, Benjamin, 205.

Hill, C. M., 28.

Hill, G. W., 28.

Hill, Reuben C, 327, 338, 339,
341.

Hillsboro, 14.

Holman, Rev., 52.

Hood River, 453.

Howland and Aspen-wall Com-
pany, 408.

Hubbard, David, 428.

Huchins, James, 99.

Hudson Bay Company, 193, 219,

220.
Hunt, Thomas Dwight, 238.

I.

Illinois, 71.

Illinois Baptist Education Socie-
ty, 78, 98.

Illinois Sunday School Union, 78.

Ilwaco, 280, 322.

Immigration to Oregon, of 1846,
198; of 1847, 214; of 1851, 328;
of 1852, 354.

Independence, la., 10, 150.

Indians, 381.

Indiana Baptist Education Socie-
ty, 19, 158, 66.

Indian War, 218, 220, 228; of
1853, 417; of 1855, 477.

Iowa, 10, 102, 135, 151, 153.

Iowa City, 110.

J.

Jacksonville, 351, 359, 398, 407,
457.

Jeffers, J., 20, 21,. 275.

Jeffers, Franklin, 279.

Johnson, Hezekiah, 12, 13, 20, 21,
22, 132, 136, 13, 142, 155, 159,
188, 193, 225, 249, 262, 267, 275,
282, 288, 300, 333, 335, 388, 392,
462, 487.

Johnson, Mary, 20.

Johnson, W. C, 279, 426.

K.

Kendall, T. J., 165.
Kilburn, Captain W. K., 199.
Kinney, R. C, 263.
Klamath, 244.

L.

La Bish, Lake, 347.

La Creole, 338.

La Fayette, Ind., 41.

Land Laws, 230.

Latourette, Ann E. Fisher, 7.

Latourette, L. D. C, 345.

Latourette, Lucy J. G. Fisher, 16.

Lawrenceburg, 52.

Lawrence, Rev., 33, 39, 40.

Leach, Rev., 73.

Lead, 108.

Lebanon Church, 337, 339, 344,

415.
Lee County, 133.
Leland, 434, 437.
Lemon, Joseph, 105.
Lenox, David T., 14, 15, 18, 144,

166, 247.
Lenox, Edward, 13, 255.
Leverett, Rev., 72.
Linn City, 318, 324.
Linnton, 13, 247.
Logansport, Ind., 43, 59, 65, 70.
Luckiamute, 14, 172.

INDEX

491

M.

Marion County, Ind., 39, 329.
Mary, 453.

Marysville, see Corvallis.
Massachusetts Sunday Scliool

Society, 201.
Masons, 472.
Matilda, 235, 242.
Matlock, W. T., 250, 263, 315, 325.
Mathews, Rev., 67.
McCarty, Nicholas, 56.
McCoy, James, 42.
McLoughlin, John, 13, 263.
McMinnville College, 21, 28- 282,

300.
Medora, 222.
Methodists, 34.
Methodist Church, 20, 115 130,

186, 195, 203, 263, 264, 334,

365, 380, 406, 419, 437, 459.
Mexican War, 195, 200.
Military Tract, 82.
Millard (Fisher) Amelia, 23.
Mill Creek, 264, 265.
Miller, Richard, 209, 262.
Milwaukie, Oregon, 305, 318.
Mollala, 20, 263, 266, 267.
Molalla Church, 249.
Moline, 129.
Moore, Betty, 5.
Morgan, Lewis, 51, 64.
Mt. Pleasant, 111., 11.
Muscatine, la., see Bloomington,

N.

National Popular Education, 296.

National Road, 52.

Nehama Agency, 160-163.

Nelson, 86.

New London Emigration Society

Constitution, 159-161.
Newell, George P., 303, 322.
Newton Theological Seminary,

7.
Noblesville, Ind., 41, 43, 51.

O.

Ogle, Rev., 105.

Oregon, 11-14, 120, 122, 124, 132-
187; described, 211-213, 226,
377-384.

Oregon Baptist Education So-
ciety, 20, 266, 267, 281-283, 286.

Oregon City, 13, 19, 20, 22, 143,
158, 165, 188, 193, 209, 262, 267,
273, 277, 391, 406, 407, 431, 325,
335, 282, 285, 292.

Oregon City Baptist Church
Building, 225.

Oregon City College, 336, 352,
363, 373, 374, 386-391, 417, 433,
437, 439, 457, 470, 479, 480, 486,
283, 284, 286-292, 300, 301, 304,
305, 309, 314, 320, 323, 326, 335.

Oregon City University, 21.

Oregon Institute, 169, 250, 365.

Oregon Land Law, 334.

Oregon Land Bill, 313.
Orr, David, 99.
Owen County, 39.

Pacific City, see Ilwaco.

Parkhurst, 102, 106, 112.

Parks, N., 78.

Parrish Gap, 23, 24.

Parrish, Josiah L., 381.

Payson, 98.

Peace Society, 55.

Peck, J. M., 171.

Pendleton, Ind., 51.

Perry, M., 259.

Pettygrove, F. W., 174.

Pierce, T. J., 28.

Pleasant Butte Church, 446.

Pleasant Run, 61.

Porter, William, 209, 249, 267.

Portland, Oregon, 182, 296, 297,

312, 325, 334, 393, 434, 436, 448-

450, 456, 468.
Portland Academy, 379.
Port Orford, 379.
Post, J. D., 353, 364, 375, 401, 407,

409, 421, 433, 437, 462, 472, 479,

480, 486.
Presbyterians, 16, 34, 130.
Presbyterian Church, 62, 334,

351, 366.
Prices, 224, 275, 278, 295, 332,

333, 360.
Protracted Meeting, 92, 105.
Providence Church, 399.
Psalmist, 215, 227.
Puget Sound, 16, 169, 172, 185,

209, 213, 304, 327, 330, 369, 371,

379, 401.

Q.

Quincy, 111., 9, 10, 71, 73-100.

R.
Railroads, 80, 84, 87.
Read, J. S., 324, 328, 343, 350,

353, 359, 363, 368, 393, 402.
Rees, William, 52.
Rice, Levi A., 273, 359.
Richardson, Wm, P., 162.
Richmond, Nathaniel, 51, 56.
Rickreall, 172, 207, 280.
Riley, C. C, 439.
Robb, James R., 21.
Rochester, la., 112, 114.
Rock Island, 11, 107, 126.
Rock River, 111., 10.
Rockville, Ind., 41, 42.
Rodgers, Andrew, 29.
Rogue River, 21, 331, 345, 378.
Rogue River Valley, 403, 404, 417.
Roman Catholic Church, 80, 118,,

144, 145, 169, 170, 181, 195, 201,

214, 220, 263, 282, 287, 330, 454,

473.
Ross, Charles L., 206, 210, 256.
Rushville, 111., 71.
Rexford, John, 347.

492

INDEX

Salaries, 8, 12, 17, 41, 89, 90, 100,

110, 120, 132, 152, 157, 197, 200,

209, 216, 217, 223, 233, 278, 279,

334, 336, 340, 341, 345, 347, 357,

367, 370, 397, 402, 419, 448, 449,
Salem, Ore., 19, 264, 303, 347.

462, 465, 485.

361, 365, 408, 447.
Salem. Ind.. 42.
San Diego, 27.
Sandwich Islands, 204. 206, 222,

240, 242.
Sandy River, 452.
San Francisco, 16, 206, 210, 226,

240. 253.
Santiam, 265, 266.
Santiam Church. 24. 385, 421.
Santiam River, 250, 254.
Scottsburg, 378.
Sedwick, George C, 67.
Seley, Rev., 126.
Shark, 192.
Shasta. 331.
Shattuck,. E. D., 417.
Shelbyville, Ind., 50, 51, 56.
Shiloh, 265.
Shiloh Church. 329, 287, 339, 347,

415, 427.
Shiveley, Charles, 426.
Sick Creek. 55, 66.
Skipanon, 246.
Slavery, 25. 485.
Snelling, Vincent, 14, 15, 144, 162,

207, 209, 216, 225. 248. 251, 261,

270. 280, 296. 329, 338.
Sodaville, 24.
South Yamhill. 179.
Spaulding, 219.
Spectator, 185.
Spencer. Ind., 39.
Sperry, William. 24, 334, ,351, 416,

446.
Spokane, 219.
Springfield, Vt, 7, 31.
Stanford, N. B., 148.
Stark, Beniamin, 177.
St. Anthony Falls, 128-156.
Stearns. M. N.. 465.
Stevens, Thomas, 354. 385, 405.
St. Helen, 144.
St. .Tosenh. Mo., 12.
Sullivan's Creek, 255.
Sunday Schools, 36. 206, 208 217.

232, 234, 284. 293. 297. 413.

T.

Taft. Lucy. 7.
Taylor, Thomas. 466.
Temperance, 202.
Temrterance Societies, 55, 98.

108. 137.
Terwallomev River. 259.
Texas. 10, 88, 91, 93. 96, 97. 99.
Thompson. Lewis. 17. 202.
Thornton, Mrs. N. M., 283, 295.

Thurston, M., 296, 308.

Tillamook, 379.

Toulon, 177, 180.

Townsend, Thomas C, 55.

Trabne. Aaron, 96.

Tualatin Plains, 13, 167, 179, 207,

229, 231, 266.
Tualatin Valley, 19.
Tuallaty Plains, see Tualatin

Plains.

U.

Umpqua, 244, 327, 331, 345, 348,

358, 378, 404, 405.
Umpqua River, 21.
Undine, 19, 238, 240, 277.
University of Oregon, 457.

Van Brunt, Rev., 105.
Vancouver, Wash., 267.
Vermont Baptist State Conven-
tion, 33.

W.

Wabash and Erie Canal, 80, 84,
87.

Waller, A. F., 381.

Walker, 219.

Wapsipinicon, 101.

Wapsipinikie, 10.

Washington Butte, 26.

Webster's Spelling Book, 186.

Wendell, Mass., 6.

Weston, Rodolphus, 385, 395-397.

West Union Church, 14, 15, 18,
385, 395-397.

Wheeler. O. D., 19.

Wheeler, O. C, 261.

Whitby's Island, 213, 379.

Wliite, Elijah, 164.

White River, 34.

Wliitman, Marcus, 29 .

Whitman Massacre, 218-220.

Whiton, 199, 206, 216, 227.

Wilbur. Rev.. 250.

Willamette Baptist Association,
18. 438.

Willamette Valley Baptist Asso-
ciation, 225, 229, 248.

Willamette River, 20.

Willamette Valley, 19, 142, 172,
208, 262-270.

Williams, Eliphelet, 50.

Wilkes, Charles. 172.

Wilmot. William S., 353.

Winchel's Works, 47.

Winchester. 349. 359.

Woods. James V. A., 739. 50. 56,
58, 59, 70.

Wyoming, la., 102.

Y.

Yamhill, 266.
Yamhill County, 15.
Yamhill Valley, 251.
Youngs Bay, 192.

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